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The 1/4 degree global Parallel Ocean Climate Model is continually modified to increase its skill in reproducing the oceans' circulation patterns. Presently, three-dimensional fields of the model's prognostic variables are available every three days for the the years 1987 through 1995. The current available model run is a 20-level primitive equation model forced with daily ECMWF wind stress fields and Barnier et al. (1995) monthly climatological heat flux fields. In addition to the instaneous model fields, statistical quantities are created for each month and year and for ensembles of years (e.g., TOPEX time period or the complete 9 years). Stammer et al. (1996) is an in-depth analysis of the model and how well it represents the true state of the ocean. Additionally, a draft paper by Tokmakian (1996) compares a global time series data set of model sea surface heights at tide gauge locations with the observational data. Overall, there is a remarkable agreement of the two data sets, with a global correlation of 0.5, showing much higher correlations at coastal and tropical stations. Both these papers (Stammer et al. (1996) and Tokmakian (1996)) can be viewed at http://vislab-www.nps.navy.mil/~rtt. Over the next year, we plan on improving the model with better forcing by using the ECMWF re-analyzed winds and/or the use of ERS and NSCAT winds, improved bathymetry, a mixed layer, and heat/moisture fluxes.
Recently, we have undertaken the task to create time series using the model data over the nine year period, 1987-1995, along the WOCE one-time surveys and at WOCE current meter locations. These data will be available via the web and/or ftp in a format compatible to in situ data. These time series will allow WOCE investigators to place their one-time sampled data in context of a longer temporal period. All the data are available to external users. We provide assistance to potential investigators by 1) advising them of any conflicts with others that might exist for their proposed research using the model data and 2) directing them on how the data may be extracted from our archives. We will also consider collaborating with other groups depending on the request.
by Albert Semtner and Robin Tokmakian
Barnier, B., L. Siefried, and P. Marchesiello, Thermal forcing for a global ocean circulation model using a 3-year climatology of ECMWF analyses, J. Marine Systems, 6, 363-380, 1995.
Stammer, D., R.Tokmakian, A.Semtner, C. Wunsch, 1995, How well does a 1/4 degree global ocean circulation model simulate large-scale observations? Submitted to JGR, Sept 1995
Tokmakian, R., 1996, Global ocean models reproduce climatic sea level flucuations, draft.
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