MOM5
MOM5 copied to clipboard
ncar_boundary_scaling algorithm results in inconsistent background viscosities for tripolar grids
There's already a note in the code partly adressing this issue but it skirts the main problem.
The background viscosities aiso_back
and aaniso_back
are on the velocity points. When using the NCAR algorithm ocean_bihgen_frictionand
ocean_lapgen_friction_mod` in this results in an inconsistency in the background values for (i,nj,:) and (ni-i,nj,:) which are actually the same point when using a tripolar grid
For i<ni/2
distances along the fold are measured from Russia and i>n/2
distances are measured from Canada. In short, we have 2 different viscosities for the same point!
I suggest a warning be issued is a user tries to use this algorithm and suggest that they calculate the background scaling correctly offline.
Also the ncar_boundary_scaling
boundary scaling is supposed to ensure western boundary currents are wide enough to resolve, so it should be on the eastern side of land cells. But is actually on the i-maximum side, which is not the same thing in the tripolar cap region. Perhaps it should simply be disabled in the tripolar cap region?
Good catch.. Unless someone wishes to work through the algorithm for the bipolar region, then it might just be best to remove it north of 65N. However, that should be tested to ensure no major negative changes appear.