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An Ocean Modelling System for Supercomputer Architectures of the 1990s

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Abstract

Progress in modelling the global ocean has historically been severely limited by insufficient computer power. However, recent and anticipated advances in computer technology offer considerable promise for changing this situation—if judicious use is made of supercomputers. In order to realize the desired goal of being able to simulate global ocean circulation with resolved eddies within “reasonable” time constraints, a model has been developed to tap the potential of present and future generations of multi processor, vector supercomputers. The first application of this model with 1/2 degree horizontal resolution and 20 levels in the vertical used the four processors of a Cray X-MP/48 computer system at close to the maximal attainable efficiency level. A surprisingly realistic simulation in terms of mean fields and eddy variability was also achieved. Applications with higher resolution using more processors eagerly await future supercomputers.

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© 1990 British Crown Copyright

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Chervin, R.M., Semtner, A.J. (1990). An Ocean Modelling System for Supercomputer Architectures of the 1990s. In: Schlesinger, M.E. (eds) Climate-Ocean Interaction. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2093-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2093-4_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7440-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2093-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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