Geoscientific Model Development (Apr 2014)

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

  • Q. Wang,
  • S. Danilov,
  • D. Sidorenko,
  • R. Timmermann,
  • C. Wekerle,
  • X. Wang,
  • T. Jung,
  • J. Schröter

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-663-2014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 2
pp. 663 – 693

Abstract

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The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) is the first global ocean general circulation model based on unstructured-mesh methods that has been developed for the purpose of climate research. The advantage of unstructured-mesh models is their flexible multi-resolution modelling functionality. In this study, an overview of the main features of FESOM will be given; based on sensitivity experiments a number of specific parameter choices will be explained; and directions of future developments will be outlined. It is argued that FESOM is sufficiently mature to explore the benefits of multi-resolution climate modelling and that its applications will provide information useful for the advancement of climate modelling on unstructured meshes.