Numerical models of ocean circulation and climate interaction

Abstract

This article reviews recent advances in ocean circulation models and climate interactions. Related reviews of one‐dimensional models and models of equatorial and polar regions are given in this Quadrennial Report by Garwood [1979], O'Brien [1979] and Baker [1979], respectively. Related reviews of climate are given in the Meteorology section of the Quadrennial Report by Gates [1979], Kutzbach [1979], Perry [1979], and Rotty and Marland [1979].Several detailed review articles on ocean circulation models and climate were written in the last four years. National Academy of Sciences [1975], U. S. Committee for GARP [1975] and WMO/ICSU [1975] give the status at the beginning of this review period while Pond and Bryan [1976] and Holland [1977a] represent more recent reviews. Kraus [1977] contains review articles on modeling the upper ocean, while Gribbin [1978] contains review articles on the ocean's role in climatic change. The latest detailed reviews of ocean circulation models and their relation to climate were presented at a JOC/SCOR Joint Study Conference held in Helsinki in May, 1977 [WMO/ICSU, 1977]. Many of these reviews will be published in a forthcoming issue of Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans. The present review begins with studies of the possible effect of ocean temperature variabilities on the atmosphere, and then proceeds to studies using idealized basin models, world ocean models, and finally coupled ocean‐atmosphere models.