Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models

E. E. Tsartsali; R. J. Haarsma; P. J. Athanasiadis; A. Bellucci; H. de Vries; S. Drijfhout; I. E. de Vries; D. Putrahasan; M. J. Roberts; E. Sanchez–Gomez; C. D. Roberts

doi:10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9

Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models

E. E. Tsartsali, R. J. Haarsma, P. J. Athanasiadis, A. Bellucci, H. de Vries, S. Drijfhout, I. E. de Vries, D. Putrahasan, M. J. Roberts, E. Sanchez–Gomez, C. D. Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

We have investigated the horizontal resolution dependence of the ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream, of simulations made by six Global Climate Models according to the HighResMIP protocol, and compared it with reanalysis and remote sensing observations. Two ocean–atmosphere interaction mechanisms are explored in detail: The Vertical Mixing Mechanism (VMM) associated with the intensification of downward momentum transfer, and the Pressure Adjustment Mechanism (PAM) associated with secondary circulations driven by pressure gradients. Both VMM and PAM are found to be active even in the eddy-parameterized models. However, increasing ocean and/or atmosphere resolution leads to enhanced ocean–atmosphere coupling and improved agreement with reanalysis and observations. Our results indicate that while one part of the stronger air–sea coupling is attributable to the refinement of the oceanic component to eddy-permitting, optimal results are obtained only by further increase of the atmosphere resolution too. The use of the eddy-resolving model show weaker or same coupling strength over the eddy-permitting resolution. We conclude that at least eddy-permiting ocean resolution and comparable atmosphere resolution are required for a reliable ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3317-3333
Number of pages	17
Journal	Climate Dynamics
Volume	58
Issue number	11-12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9
Publication status	Published - Jun 2022

Keywords

Air–sea interaction
Gulf Stream
Mesoscale coupling
Pressure adjustment mechanism (PAM)
Vertical mixing mechanism (VMM)

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Tsartsali, E. E., Haarsma, R. J., Athanasiadis, P. J., Bellucci, A., de Vries, H., Drijfhout, S., de Vries, I. E., Putrahasan, D., Roberts, M. J., Sanchez–Gomez, E., & Roberts, C. D. (2022). Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models. Climate Dynamics, 58(11-12), 3317-3333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9

@article{05aba4f3909f4ca59ed7e36bf3fb2a74,

title = "Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models",

abstract = "We have investigated the horizontal resolution dependence of the ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream, of simulations made by six Global Climate Models according to the HighResMIP protocol, and compared it with reanalysis and remote sensing observations. Two ocean–atmosphere interaction mechanisms are explored in detail: The Vertical Mixing Mechanism (VMM) associated with the intensification of downward momentum transfer, and the Pressure Adjustment Mechanism (PAM) associated with secondary circulations driven by pressure gradients. Both VMM and PAM are found to be active even in the eddy-parameterized models. However, increasing ocean and/or atmosphere resolution leads to enhanced ocean–atmosphere coupling and improved agreement with reanalysis and observations. Our results indicate that while one part of the stronger air–sea coupling is attributable to the refinement of the oceanic component to eddy-permitting, optimal results are obtained only by further increase of the atmosphere resolution too. The use of the eddy-resolving model show weaker or same coupling strength over the eddy-permitting resolution. We conclude that at least eddy-permiting ocean resolution and comparable atmosphere resolution are required for a reliable ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream.",

keywords = "Air–sea interaction, Gulf Stream, Mesoscale coupling, Pressure adjustment mechanism (PAM), Vertical mixing mechanism (VMM)",

author = "Tsartsali, {E. E.} and Haarsma, {R. J.} and Athanasiadis, {P. J.} and A. Bellucci and {de Vries}, H. and S. Drijfhout and {de Vries}, {I. E.} and D. Putrahasan and Roberts, {M. J.} and E. Sanchez–Gomez and Roberts, {C. D.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments/suggestions, which significantly helped to improve this manuscript. EET, RH, AB, PA, HdV, SD, IEdV, DP, MJR, ESG, CDR acknowledge PRIMAVERA funding received from the European Commission under Grant Agreement 641727 of the Horizon 2020 research program. Funding Information: This work was supported by Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (641727). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9",

language = "English",

volume = "58",

pages = "3317--3333",

journal = "Climate Dynamics",

issn = "0930-7575",

publisher = "Springer Verlag",

number = "11-12",

}

Tsartsali, EE, Haarsma, RJ, Athanasiadis, PJ, Bellucci, A, de Vries, H , Drijfhout, S, de Vries, IE, Putrahasan, D, Roberts, MJ, Sanchez–Gomez, E & Roberts, CD 2022, 'Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models', Climate Dynamics, vol. 58, no. 11-12, pp. 3317-3333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models

AU - Tsartsali, E. E.

AU - Haarsma, R. J.

AU - Athanasiadis, P. J.

AU - Bellucci, A.

AU - de Vries, H.

AU - Drijfhout, S.

AU - de Vries, I. E.

AU - Putrahasan, D.

AU - Roberts, M. J.

AU - Sanchez–Gomez, E.

AU - Roberts, C. D.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments/suggestions, which significantly helped to improve this manuscript. EET, RH, AB, PA, HdV, SD, IEdV, DP, MJR, ESG, CDR acknowledge PRIMAVERA funding received from the European Commission under Grant Agreement 641727 of the Horizon 2020 research program. Funding Information: This work was supported by Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (641727). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).

PY - 2022/6

Y1 - 2022/6

N2 - We have investigated the horizontal resolution dependence of the ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream, of simulations made by six Global Climate Models according to the HighResMIP protocol, and compared it with reanalysis and remote sensing observations. Two ocean–atmosphere interaction mechanisms are explored in detail: The Vertical Mixing Mechanism (VMM) associated with the intensification of downward momentum transfer, and the Pressure Adjustment Mechanism (PAM) associated with secondary circulations driven by pressure gradients. Both VMM and PAM are found to be active even in the eddy-parameterized models. However, increasing ocean and/or atmosphere resolution leads to enhanced ocean–atmosphere coupling and improved agreement with reanalysis and observations. Our results indicate that while one part of the stronger air–sea coupling is attributable to the refinement of the oceanic component to eddy-permitting, optimal results are obtained only by further increase of the atmosphere resolution too. The use of the eddy-resolving model show weaker or same coupling strength over the eddy-permitting resolution. We conclude that at least eddy-permiting ocean resolution and comparable atmosphere resolution are required for a reliable ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream.

AB - We have investigated the horizontal resolution dependence of the ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream, of simulations made by six Global Climate Models according to the HighResMIP protocol, and compared it with reanalysis and remote sensing observations. Two ocean–atmosphere interaction mechanisms are explored in detail: The Vertical Mixing Mechanism (VMM) associated with the intensification of downward momentum transfer, and the Pressure Adjustment Mechanism (PAM) associated with secondary circulations driven by pressure gradients. Both VMM and PAM are found to be active even in the eddy-parameterized models. However, increasing ocean and/or atmosphere resolution leads to enhanced ocean–atmosphere coupling and improved agreement with reanalysis and observations. Our results indicate that while one part of the stronger air–sea coupling is attributable to the refinement of the oceanic component to eddy-permitting, optimal results are obtained only by further increase of the atmosphere resolution too. The use of the eddy-resolving model show weaker or same coupling strength over the eddy-permitting resolution. We conclude that at least eddy-permiting ocean resolution and comparable atmosphere resolution are required for a reliable ocean–atmosphere coupling along the Gulf Stream.

KW - Air–sea interaction

KW - Gulf Stream

KW - Mesoscale coupling

KW - Pressure adjustment mechanism (PAM)

KW - Vertical mixing mechanism (VMM)

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/56c8736a-6526-3836-9172-e58cf9f02e66/

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124766058&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9

DO - 10.1007/s00382-021-06098-9

M3 - Article

SN - 0930-7575

VL - 58

SP - 3317

EP - 3333

JO - Climate Dynamics

JF - Climate Dynamics

IS - 11-12

ER -

Impact of resolution on the atmosphere–ocean coupling along the Gulf Stream in global high resolution models

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Keywords

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