ISOM 1.0: a fully mesoscale-resolving idealized Southern Ocean model and the diversity of multiscale eddy interactions

Abstract

We describe an idealized Southern Ocean model (ISOM 1.0) that contains simplified iconic topographic features in the Southern Ocean and conduct a fully mesoscale-resolving simulation with the horizontal resolution of 2 km, based on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model. The model obtains a fully developed and vigorous mesoscale eddying field with a k−3 eddy kinetic energy spectrum and captures the topographic effect on stratification and large-scale flow. To make a natural introduction of large eddy simulation (LES) methods to ocean mesoscale parameterization, we propose the concept of mesoscale ocean direct numerical simulation (MODNS). A qualified MODNS dataset should resolve the first baroclinic deformation radius and ensure that the affected scales by the dissipation schemes are sufficiently smaller than the radius. Such datasets can serve as the benchmark for a priori and a posteriori tests of LES schemes or mesoscale ocean large eddy simulation (MOLES) methods in ocean general circulation models. The 2 km simulation can meet the requirement of MODNS and also capture submesoscale effects. Therefore, its output can be a type of MODNS and provide reliable data support for relevant a priori and a posteriori tests. We demonstrate the diversity of multiscale eddy interactions, validate the crucial role of mesoscale-related strain in submesoscale processes, and uncover the bridge effect of submesoscale processes between mesoscale entities and in the eddy–jet interaction. In addition, we use the model to conduct multipassive tracer experiments and reveal guidelines for the initial settings of passive tracers to delay the homogenization process and ensure the mutual independence of tracers over a long period.