GODAE is sponsored by
The CSS projects
Norwegian, Baltic and North Seas
P21 - Mohn-Sverdrup Center Norwegian Sea Ecosystem MSC-NWS-ECO
Domain
The model covers the Norwegian Sea and Coastal Current with 4 km resolution (conformal mapping grid) Approximately from 62N to 68N and from 4W to 12E.
Objectives
Hindcast studies, research.
The objective is to study the influence of mesoscale fronts and eddies on the ecosystem in the Norwegian Sea. The model could easily be set up in real-time at a later stage if needed.
Customers:
Research, society at large.
Funding aspects:
This project is 100% funded by a private donation of Trond Mohn C/O Frank Mohn AS.
Downscaling strategy
One-way and off-line nesting offer sufficient flexibility for operating the nested model. A three level HYCOM-to-HYCOM downscaling is used from a 40 km North Atlantic Model to a 15 km North Eastern Shelf and to the 4 km MSC-NWS-ECO model, the sequence of nested models is designed for numerical efficiency of the coupled physical-ecosystem model. The downscaling method is from that of Browning and Kreiss (1982, 1986) with bilinear interpolation to the nested rotated horizontal grid. The frequency of nesting conditions is 6-hourly. Astronomical tides are added. The ecosystem variables are also nested on all 3 levels. The same ecosystem model is used on all 3 levels, The nesting between ecosystems models with different compartments is needed for flexibility and will be implemented at a later stage. The monitoring and prediction system is driven by external inputs, atmospheric forcing fields from ECMWF (ERA40).
| Why does this project need large-scale estimates? | The North Atlantic Water inflow (including the nutrients) needs to be correctly represented. High quality lateral boundary conditions of ocean parameter are absolutely vital. |
| Strategy for validation of boundary conditions? | The incoming volume fluxes, ecosystem variables, water mass properties are monitored in the nested model and compared to available observations and to the outer model. |
| What particular GODAE estimates does this project use, how often, etc.? | The project produces its own boundary conditions for 3D physical and ecosystem ocean parameters by the use of coarse resolution versions of the TOPAZ and CONMAN systems. The frequency of nesting files is 6-hours for the physical variables, daily for the ecosystem variables. Tides are included. |
| Through which Modelling/Assimilation Center? | The Mohn-Sverdrup Center at the Nansen Center, Bergen. |
Project status
A hindcast study for the years 1995-1996 is ongoing.
(Last Updated: 17-01-2008)