Extended Abstract (692K)P1.1
Modeling upwelling with a coupled Atmosphere-Ocean mesoscale model
Joćo P. Ferreira, Instituto de Meteorologia, Lisbon, Portugal; and P. M. A. Miranda
The coastal upwelling is an interaction process between the ocean and the atmosphere, with important repercussions in the local weather and climate. The western coast of the Iberian Peninsula is a well known upwelling region due to the establishment of a well defined northerly wind regime (the Nortada), associated with the joint action of the Azores High and the Thermal Low that typically develops in central Iberian Peninsula during the summer. In order to study the interactions between the sea breeze and the coastal upwelling, the use of a coupled ocean/atmospheric model is required. This model must have a very good temporal and spatial resolution, to be able to realistically reproduce the upwelling regime and the sea breeze, over an Atlantic Ocean limited area, between SW Europe and Africa near the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Two mesoscale models were coupled: an atmospheric model (MM5) and an ocean model (HYCOM). The coupled parameters are: sea surface temperature obtained with the ocean model and wind, rainfall, short and long wave radiation, specific humidity and temperature of the air at two meters obtained with the atmospheric model. Results, compared against point observations and satellite data, indicate a good response of the coupled model in reproducing observed several upwelling events.
Poster Session 1, Poster Session P1: Formal Viewing
Tuesday, 11 January 2005, 9:45 AM-11:00 AM
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