3. Getting started with MITgcm

This chapter is divided into two main parts. The first part, which is covered in sections 3.1 through 3.7, contains information about how to run experiments using MITgcm. The second part, covered in sections 3.9 through 3.20, contains a set of step-by-step tutorials for running specific pre-configured atmospheric and oceanic experiments.

We believe the best way to familiarize yourself with the model is to run the case study examples provided with the base version. Information on how to obtain, compile, and run the code is found here as well as a brief description of the model structure directory and the case study examples. Information is also provided here on how to customize the code when you are ready to try implementing the configuration you have in mind. The code and algorithm are described more fully in chapters 2 and 4.

• 3.1 Where to find information
• 3.2 Obtaining the code
  • 3.2.1 Method 1 - Checkout from CVS
  • 3.2.2 Method 2 - Tar file download
  
  
• 3.3 Model and directory structure
• 3.4 Building MITgcm
  • 3.4.1 Building/compiling the code elsewhere
  • 3.4.2 Using genmake2
  • 3.4.3 Building with MPI
  
  
• 3.5 Running MITgcm
  • 3.5.1 Output files
  • 3.5.2 Looking at the output
  
  
• 3.6 Customizing MITgcm
  • 3.6.1 Parameters: Computational domain, geometry and time-discretization
  • 3.6.2 Parameters: Equation of state
  • 3.6.3 Parameters: Momentum equations
  • 3.6.4 Parameters: Tracer equations
  • 3.6.5 Parameters: Simulation controls
  
  
• 3.7 Testing
  • 3.7.1 Using testreport
  • 3.7.2 Automated testing
  
  
• 3.8 MITgcm Example Experiments
  • 3.8.1 Full list of model examples
  • 3.8.2 Directory structure of model examples
  
  
• 3.9 Barotropic Gyre MITgcm Example
  • 3.9.1 Equations Solved
  • 3.9.2 Discrete Numerical Configuration
  • 3.9.3 Code Configuration
  
  
• 3.10 Baroclinic Gyre MITgcm Example
  • 3.10.1 Overview
  • 3.10.2 Equations solved
  • 3.10.3 Discrete Numerical Configuration
  • 3.10.4 Code Configuration
  • 3.10.5 Running The Example
  
  
• 3.11 Gyre Advection Example
  • 3.11.1 Advection and tracer transport
  • 3.11.2 Introducing a tracer into the flow
  • 3.11.3 Selecting an advection scheme
  • 3.11.4 Comparison of different advection schemes
  • 3.11.5 Code and Parameters files for this tutorial
  
  
• 3.12 Global Ocean MITgcm Example
  • 3.12.1 Overview
  • 3.12.2 Discrete Numerical Configuration
  • 3.12.3 Experiment Configuration
  
  
• 3.13 P coordinate Global Ocean MITgcm Example
  • 3.13.1 Overview
  • 3.13.2 Discrete Numerical Configuration
  • 3.13.3 Experiment Configuration
  
  
• 3.14 Held-Suarez Atmosphere MITgcm Example
  • 3.14.1 Overview
  • 3.14.2 Forcing
  • 3.14.3 Set-up description
  • 3.14.4 Experiment Configuration
  
  
• 3.15 Surface Driven Convection
  • 3.15.1 Overview
  • 3.15.2 Equations solved
  • 3.15.3 Discrete numerical configuration
  • 3.15.4 Numerical stability criteria and other considerations
  • 3.15.5 Experiment configuration
  • 3.15.6 Running the example
  
  
• 3.16 Gravity Plume On a Continental Slope
  • 3.16.1 Configuration
  • 3.16.2 Binary input data
  • 3.16.3 Code configuration
  • 3.16.4 Model parameters
  • 3.16.5 Build and run the model
  
  
• 3.17 Biogeochemistry Tutorial
  • 3.17.1 Overview
  • 3.17.2 Equations Solved
  • 3.17.3 Code configuration
  • 3.17.4 Running the example
  
  
• 3.18 Global Ocean State Estimation Example
  • 3.18.1 Overview
  • 3.18.2 Implementation of the control variable and the cost function
  • 3.18.3 Code Configuration
  • 3.18.4 Compiling
  • 3.18.5 Running the estimation
  
  
• 3.19 Sensitivity of Air-Sea Exchange to Tracer Injection Site
  • 3.19.1 Overview of the experiment
  • 3.19.2 Code configuration
  • 3.19.3 Compiling the model and its adjoint
  
  
• 3.20 Offline Example
  • 3.20.1 Overview
  • 3.20.2 Time-stepping of tracers
  • 3.20.3 Code Configuration
  • 3.20.4 Running The Example
  • 3.20.5 A more complicated example
  
  
• 3.21 A Rotating Tank in Cylindrical Coordinates
  • 3.21.1 Overview
  • 3.21.2 Equations Solved
  • 3.21.3 Discrete Numerical Configuration
  • 3.21.4 Code Configuration

Copyright © 2006 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Last update 2011-01-09