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Numerical Algorithms for ESM: Future Perspectives for Ocean Modelling

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Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences ((BRIEFSEARTHSYST,volume 1))

Abstract

Earth System modeling is indispensable for our understanding of current and future climate change. Here we will address one of its components, the ocean, capable of storing large amount of heat and thus influencing the climate on large time and space scales. Currently, numerical modeling of ocean general circulation is dominated by models formulated on regular meshes. Many of them are elaborated tools enabling a selection of various time-stepping techniques, advection schemes, physical parameterizations, vertical discretization and convenient initialization and data analysis tools. When it comes to selectively changing the resolution in an area of interest, there are several choices beginning from nesting (when a finer grid is included into a coarse one) to curvilinear coordinates stretched or squeezed locally to follow coastlines or deliver extra resolution to specific areas. Despite many successful applications of nesting, its difficulties are generally recognized, and it is generally a challenging task to seamlessly match fluxes (of momentum, tracers, mass) both ways (from coarse to fine and vice versa) while maintaining appropriate physical parameterizations.

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Danilov, S., Schröter, J. (2012). Numerical Algorithms for ESM: Future Perspectives for Ocean Modelling. In: Earth System Modelling - Volume 2. SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23831-4_4

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