This project is examaining 1/8 degree resolution solutions from ECCO2 to help develop
and validate theoretical models of the air-sea processes that drive MODE water formation.
The project is developing high-spatial resolution and high-temporal frequency maps
of potential vorticity (PV) fields in active MODE water formation regions such as the Gulf
Stream region PV plot shown below
Through this work (and other complementary field and data analysis studies) a better understanding
of the covariations between air-sea surface processes and the genesis and formation
rates of important ocean interior water masses is being developed.
Status
You can read more about how the MODE water analyses are carried out and about
their progress at Guillaume Maze's
research web pages -
(possibly the first blogger to focus on potential vorticity!)
With NASA AMES we are currently performing a 2000-2005 1/8 degree integration
with high-frequency sampling in the upper
1000m of the regions shown by the blue rectangles in the figure below
We are sampling both surface and interior state of the simulation at high
(sub-daily)
frequency and at every model grid cell within the boxed regions. Additionally
full depth sections along the dotted lines are being sampled at high-frequency.
