The Antarctic Slope Front and cross-shelf hydrography in a E3SMv1 high-resolution coupled simulation
Abstract
The Antarctic Slope Front (ASF) and associated frontal current develop around Antarctica where the continental slope meets the shelf break. The frontal structure originates because of different water properties between the shelf and the open ocean, and because of the wind circulation on the shelf. A good representation of the ASF and its associated cross-shelf hydrography is very important for simulating cross-shelf transport of heat and mass, and is therefore key to processes involving the interaction between the ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere.
Here, we present results from the high-resolution 1950-conditions E3SMv1 coupled simulation, which exhibits a variable resolution in the ocean and sea-ice models with 6 km resolution at the poles, and a nominal 1/4deg resolution in the atmosphere and land models. We will consider a few key locations of the Antarctic shelf, where available observations suggest that the ASF is strong (west Weddell gyre and most of East Antarctica), weak (in places where coastal polynyas produce dense, high-salinity waters on the shelf), and absent (West Antarctica). We will present the model biases in these locations and consider possible reasons for the presence of these biases.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.A11Q2736V
- Keywords:
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- 3337 Global climate models;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 1622 Earth system modeling;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 1627 Coupled models of the climate system;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 1655 Water cycles;
- GLOBAL CHANGE