Published September 1, 2022 | Version v1
Journal article Open

NeverWorld2: an idealized model hierarchy to investigate ocean mesoscale eddies across resolutions

  • 1. National Center for Atmospheric Research
  • 2. University of Colorado
  • 3. New York University
  • 4. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
  • 5. Princeton University
  • 6. Brown University
  • 7. University of Chicago
  • 8. University of Liverpool

Description

We describe an idealized primitive-equation model for studying mesoscale turbulence and leverage a hierarchy of grid resolutions to make eddy-resolving calculations on the finest grids more affordable. The model has intermediate complexity, incorporating basin-scale geometry with idealized Atlantic and Southern oceans and with non-uniform ocean depth to allow for mesoscale eddy interactions with topography. The model is perfectly adiabatic and spans the Equator and thus fills a gap between quasi-geostrophic models, which cannot span two hemispheres, and idealized general circulation models, which generally include diabatic processes and buoyancy forcing. We show that the model solution is approaching convergence in mean kinetic energy for the ocean mesoscale processes of interest and has a rich range of dynamics with circulation features that emerge only due to resolving mesoscale turbulence.

Data availability

The MOM6 source code, NW2 configuration files, and plotting and analysis scripts used in this article are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6993951 (Bhamidipati et al.2022). The NW2 dataset and detailed information on its contents are available at https://doi.org/10.26024/f130-ev71 (Marques et al.2022).

Files

gmd-15-6567-2022.pdf

Files (6.3 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:2cd89a48c13f59a9405f4ab20f92ea56
6.3 MB Preview Download

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.5194/gmd-15-6567-2022
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:14097

Funding

National Science Foundation
OCE 1912420
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NA19OAR4310365
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NA18OAR4320123
National Science Foundation
OCE 1912357
National Science Foundation
NA19OAR4310364
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NA19OAR4310366
National Science Foundation
OCE 1912332
National Science Foundation
OCE 1912163
National Science Foundation
OCE 1912302
National Science Foundation
1852977
National Center for Atmospheric Research
UNYU0004

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Physical Sciences Division
Department(s)
Geophysical Sciences