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During the past decade, Los Alamos has developed a strong program in numerical
modeling of the oceans and sea ice, with special emphasis on high-performance
computing. Our principal mission, first in the Department of Energy (DOE)
Computer Hardware, Advanced Mathematics and Model Physics (CHAMMP) program
and now in the Climate Change Prediction Program (CCPP), has been development
and validation of ocean and sea ice models and their application as components
of fully coupled climate models. We also do research in areas that support the
central mission. These research and development activities are described
more fully in the descriptions and links below, but our primary goals are to:
- Develop, validate and optimize the
Parallel Ocean Program (POP), including
improvements in the formulation of the model equations, parameterizations of
physical processes, numerical methods, and portability and performance
optimization on a range of computer architectures.
- Develop, validate and optimize the
Community Ice CodE (CICE), including the
efficient and accurate solution of the ice dynamics equations, improvements in
the sea ice thermodynamics and thickness distribution and implementation of new
or improved parameterizations.
- Complete development of hybrid-coordinate versions of POP
(HYPOP) and evaluate hybrid vertical
coordinate approaches against other alternative approaches.
- Develop and apply ice sheet models, with a focus on improved numerical
methods and coupled climate applications.
- Add biogeochemical processes to ocean models,
focusing on trace gases like dimethyl sulfide (DMS)
- Apply the models to problems of scientific interest. Of particular interest are
effects of mesoscale eddies on ocean circulation and climate (using
eddy-resolving ocean simulations), examination of polar processes and the
study of ocean thermohaline circulation and its variability.
- Evaluate our models as components of coupled climate models. This will
continue to be done in the context of active partnerships, particularly the
Community Climate System Model (CCSM).
- Pursue basic research on new or improved formulations of ocean and sea ice
model equations, process parameterizations, numerical solution techniques
and algorithms.
Each facet of our work contributes to the overall goal of improving our ocean
and sea-ice models as stand-alone models and as components of coupled climate
models. While our emphasis is on model development, much scientific research
comes out of the validation studies and other applications of the models,
particularly the eddy-resolving simulations. This provides a balance between
research and development in which the findings from model validation and
application studies provide guidance for model improvements.
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Research by the COSIM team falls into the areas shown below.
- Eddy-resolving ocean simulations:
COSIM scientists and their collaborators have run several high-resolution simulations
at both the global scale and for the North Atlantic which resolve mesoscale eddies.
These simulations have resulted in dramatically improved simulations of the surface
wind-driven ocean circulation.
- Polar processes:
Using our sea ice and ocean models, we have performed simulations looking at a
variety of polar processes, including specific ice events and effects of ice shelves
on long-term ocean circulation.
- Thermohaline circulation
The response of ocean thermohaline circulation to changes in forcing is very
uncertain with predictions ranging from total collapse to no effect. We're
taking advantage of our experience with both layered and z-coordinate models
to investigate the sensitivity of THC reponse to model formulations.
- Ocean biogeochemistry:
We are developing models of ocean biogeochemistry for use in fully coupled
carbon cycle modeling and for investigations of ocean carbon sequestration
(both injection and fertilization).
- Coupled climate modeling:
COSIM models are components of several coupled climate modeling efforts. As
part of these efforts, we participate in analyzing ocean and sea ice results in
coupled simulations.
- Model intercomparison projects:
We are participating in several model intercomparison projects to identify
strengths and deficiencies in our models. These projects include:
- AOMIP: the
Arctic Ocean Model Intercomparison Project
- OMIP (MICOM/HYCOM)
Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (MICOM/HYCOM entry)
- OMIP (POP entry)
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COSIM started under the Department of Energy's Computer Hardware, Advanced
Mathematics and Model Physics (CHAMMP) program in 1991 with Bob Malone, Rick
Smith and John Dukowicz. Bob Malone has written a nice document detailing the early history of the COSIM effort. You can read his document
here.
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