Testing a new parameterization for barotropic mesoscale ocean eddies in an Arctic basin setup

Accurate modelling of the climate is of paramount importance in developing strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. The ocean is a crucial component of the climate and simulating accurate ocean conditions in climate models is therefore extremely important. However, the energy required to reach a high degree of accuracy in modelling the ocean is large. Smarter ways of thinking are required to reduce the energetic cost of modelling the ocean while still retaining a high degree of accuracy. This project will test a new method for modelling the Arctic Ocean which has a low energy cost. We will compare the results of a highly-accurate, high energy cost model, with that of the new method to determine if this method can produce accurate results at a fraction of the energetic cost. This new method may be used in future climate models depending on the outcome of this project.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephanie Waterman

Student:

Partner:

University of Oxford

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Sustainability & the Environment

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: