EFFECTS OF INCREASED HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION IN A SIMULATION OF THE NORTH-ATLANTIC OCEAN

Global mean and eddy fields from a four-year experiment with a 1/6 deg rees X 1/5 degrees horizontal resolution implementation of the CME Nor th Atlantic model are presented. The time-averaged wind-driven and the rmohaline circulation in the model is compared to the results of a 1/3 degrees X 2/5 degrees model run in very similar configuration. In gen eral, the higher resolution results are found to confirm that the reso lution of previous CME experiments is sufficient to describe many feat ures of the large-scale circulation and water mass distribution quite well. While the increased resolution does not lead to large changes in the mean flow patterns, the variability in the model is enhanced sign ificantly. On the other hand, however, not all aspects of the circulat ion have improved with resolution. The Azores Current Frontal Zone wit h its variability in the eastern basin is still represented very poorl y. Particular attention is also directed toward the unrealistic statio nary anticyclones north of Cape Hatteras and in the Gulf of Mexico.