Abstract
Abstract. A fine-resolution primitive equation numerical model is constructed for the Iberian continental shelf and slope region, with open boundaries to the north, south and west. The model is forced by climatological wind fields and relaxed at the surface to climatological temperature and salinity fields. A series of numerical experiments is conducted to investigate the influence of the open boundary conditions. The numerical results include coastal upwelling in summer and a poleward current in winter. The effects of advection of Mediterranean Water and eastern North Atlantic Central Water feature in the circulation. Qualitative comparisons are made with observations.
Highlights
The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean off the Iberian Peninsula has a number of interesting features
The area is typical of a coastal upwelling region in the eastern boundary of the subtropical ocean
The use of a rigid lid model requires boundary stream function values to be specified and the results indicate that this part of the open boundary condition is critical in obtaining realistic results
Summary
The circulation of the Atlantic Ocean off the Iberian Peninsula has a number of interesting features. This work describes one approach to modelling the region using a primitive equation ocean general circulation model. A. Johnson: Sensitivity to open boundary forcing in a fine-resolution model of the Iberian shelf-slope region experiments of increasing complexity are described, with a summary and discussion in Sect. Five filaments form along the Iberian Peninsula during an upwelling season and their alongshore position appears to be related to major topographic features. They are associated with strong offshore jets (O(0.3 m s\)) and they may play an important role in the exchange of water across the shelf break. A review of modelling in shelf regions is included in the extensive review article by Huthnance (1995)
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