OPEN-BOUNDARY CONDITIONS FOR THE WIND-DRIVEN BAROTROPIC CIRCULATION MODEL OF THE ARABIAN SEA

Using vertically integrated numerical model, specification of differen t open-boundary conditions and its sensitivity for the simulation of w ind-driven ocean circulation in the eastern Arabian Sea is studied. Th e model is mainly driven by climatological monthly mean winds. Except the gravity wave radiation condition, all the other open boundary cond itions used in this study perform adequately at transmitting wave ener gy and its response is entirely acceptable in the wind stress experime nts. The experiments show that the circulation can be drastically chan ged simply by using different open boundary conditions. Due to its hig hly reflective nature, gravity wave condition produces a high sea surf ace elevations and also oscillates substantially more than using any o ther condition. The results also suggest that modified Orlanski radiat ion (explicit) open boundary condition is probably the best choice for barotropic ocean circulation models.