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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Height variability from the MIROC - IPCC model for the 20th century compared to that of the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter

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Author(s):
Polito, P. S. [1] ; Sato, O. T. [1] ; Wainer, I. [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Ocean Modelling; v. 24, n. 3-4, p. 73-91, 2008.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Planetary waves are key to large-scale dynamical adjustment in the global ocean as they transfer energy from the east to the west side of oceanic basins; they connect the forcing in the ocean interior with the variability at its boundaries: and they change the local heat content, thus coupling oceanic, atmospheric, and biological processes. Planetary waves, mostly of the first baroclinic mode, are observed as distinctive patterns in global time series of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) and heat storage. The goal of this study is to compare and validate large-scale SSHA signals from coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC) with TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter observations. The last decade of the models' time series is selected for comparison with the altimeter data. The wave patterns are separated from the meso- and large-scale SSHA signals by digital filters calibrated to select the same spectral bands in both model and altimeter data. The band-wise comparison allows for an assessment of the model skill to simulate the dynamical components of the observed wave field. Comparisons regarding both the seasonal cycle and the Rossby wave Held differ significantly among basins. When carried within the same basin, differences can occur between equal latitudes in opposite hemispheres. Furthermore, at some latitudes the MIROC reproduces biannual, annual and semiannual planetary waves with phase speeds and average amplitudes similar to those observed by the altimeter, but with significant differences in phase. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 05/03161-9 - Investigation of the Southern Ocean circulation for the 20th century, Part I: Effect of the Southern Ocean modes of variability on the Weddell Sea
Grantee:Ilana Elazari Klein Coaracy Wainer
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants