Improving Antarctic Bottom Water precursors in NEMO for climate applications

Abstract ∘ resolution Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO; eORCA1) forced configuration to explicitly simulate circulation beneath the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (FRIS), Larsen C Ice Shelf (LCIS) and Ross Ice Shelf (RIS). These locations are thought to supply the majority of the source waters for AABW, and so melt in all other cavities is provisionally prescribed. Results show that the grid resolution of 1∘ is sufficient to produce melt rate patterns and total melt fluxes of FRIS (117 ± - 1 ± - 1 ± - 1) that agree well with both high-resolution models and satellite measurements. Most notably, allowing sub-ice shelf circulation reduces salinity biases (0.1 psu), produces the previously unresolved water mass ISW and re-organizes the shelf circulation to bring the regional model hydrography closer to observations. A change in AABW within the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea towards colder, fresher values is identified, but the magnitude is limited by the absence of a realistic overflow. This study presents a NEMO configuration that can be used for climate applications with improved realism of the Antarctic continental shelf circulation and a better representation of the precursors of AABW.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Improving Antarctic Bottom Water precursors in NEMO for climate applications ; volume:16 ; number:12 ; year:2023 ; pages:3629-3650 ; extent:22 ; Geoscientific model development ; 16, Heft 12 (2023), 3629-3650 (gesamt 22)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Hutchinson, Katherine ; Deshayes, Julie ; Éthé, Christian ; Rousset, Clément ; de Lavergne, Casimir ; Vancoppenolle, Martin ; Jourdain, Nicolas C. ; Mathiot, Pierre

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/gmd-16-3629-2023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023070604254832912458
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:57 AM CEST