1. Overview of MITgcm

This document provides the reader with the information necessary to carry out numerical experiments using MITgcm. It gives a comprehensive description of the continuous equations on which the model is based, the numerical algorithms the model employs and a description of the associated program code. Along with the hydrodynamical kernel, physical and biogeochemical parameterizations of key atmospheric and oceanic processes are available. A number of examples illustrating the use of the model in both process and general circulation studies of the atmosphere and ocean are also presented.

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Illustrations of the model in action
  • 1.2.1 Global atmosphere: `Held-Suarez' benchmark
  • 1.2.2 Ocean gyres
  • 1.2.3 Global ocean circulation
  • 1.2.4 Convection and mixing over topography
  • 1.2.5 Boundary forced internal waves
  • 1.2.6 Parameter sensitivity using the adjoint of MITgcm
  • 1.2.7 Global state estimation of the ocean
  • 1.2.8 Ocean biogeochemical cycles
  • 1.2.9 Simulations of laboratory experiments
  
  
• 1.3 Continuous equations in `r' coordinates
  • 1.3.1 Kinematic Boundary conditions
  • 1.3.2 Atmosphere
  • 1.3.3 Ocean
  • 1.3.4 Hydrostatic, Quasi-hydrostatic, Quasi-nonhydrostatic and Non-hydrostatic forms
  • 1.3.5 Solution strategy
  • 1.3.6 Finding the pressure field
  • 1.3.7 Forcing/dissipation
  • 1.3.8 Vector invariant form
  • 1.3.9 Adjoint
  
  
• 1.4 Appendix ATMOSPHERE
  • 1.4.1 Hydrostatic Primitive Equations for the Atmosphere in pressure coordinates
  
  
• 1.5 Appendix OCEAN
  • 1.5.1 Equations of motion for the ocean
  
  
• 1.6 Appendix:OPERATORS
  • 1.6.1 Coordinate systems

Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Institute of Technology