Streamfunction Template HOWTO

1. Monthly Data Fields Requested

The requested fields are the following streamfunctions, all expressed in Sverdrups.

The Arctic basin has been omitted because some models do not have it and some that do include it use filtering. Because of this, there doesn't seem to be much insight to be gained by including it in this study.

2. Basin Descriptions for Meridional Overturning Streamfunction

The Global Basin should only contain contributions from model basins that are dynamically connected to open oceans. For example, the Mediterranean Sea should only be included if the Straights of Gibraltar are open in the model.

The Southern Basin is zonally global and ranges from Antarctica north to the southern most point of Africa. It also includes all points south of Australia.

The Indo-Pacific Basin ranges from the Southern Basin north to the Bering Strait.

The Atlantic Basin ranges from the Southern Basin north to the line of constant latitude at 70 degrees north. Points south of this line should not be included if their only path to the Atlantic crosses through the line. For example, the Barents Sea should not be included. Basins such as the Mediterranean Sea and the Hudson Bay should be included if their corresponding straights are open in the model. The motivation for this basin definition is the desire to look at deep water formation in the North Atlantic.

If you need clarification on these instructions, please feel free to ask me, klindsay@cgd.ucar.edu.

3. Grids

Two grids are needed for the streamfunctions, one for the barotropic streamfunction and another for the basin meridional overturning streamfunctions. The grids are specified in a manner analogous to previously specified grids.

Barotropic Streamfunction Grid
quantity dimensions description
imt_btrop scalar 'Zonal' dimension
jmt_btrop scalar 'Meridional' dimension
lon_btrop (imt_btrop,jmt_btrop) longitude of cell center
bounds_lon_btrop (imt_btrop,jmt_btrop,2,2) longitude boundaries of cell
lat_btrop (imt_btrop,jmt_btrop) latitude of cell center
bounds_lat_btrop (imt_btrop,jmt_btrop,2,2) latitude boundaries of cell

The bounds quantities for the barotropic streamfunction grid follow the same conventions as the tracer grid cell bounds :

Meridional Overturning Streamfunction Grid
quantity dimensions description
jmt_merid scalar Meridional dimension
lat_merid jmt_merid latitude of cell center
bounds_lat_merid (jmt_merid,2) latitude boundaries of cell
kmt_merid scalar Depth dimension
depth_merid kmt_merid depth of cell center
bounds_depth_merid (kmt_merid,2) depth boundaries of cell

4. Downloading the output routines

Fortran code for creating the NetCDF data file containing the streamfunctions is in the files

5. Transfer of output

Executing the subroutine WRITE_NC_stream will produce the NetCDF files group_stream.nc. The most convenient transfer method for me is for each group to make their results available to me via ftp. If this is feasible for your group, notify me when your output is available. I will download the data and notify you that I have retrieved it.

If this method of transfer is not convient, please notify me.

Go back to OCMIP II at NCAR.
$Revision: 1.1 $, klindsay@cgd.ucar.edu