Validation of model-simulated sea surface current and sea surface temperature with observations in the southern Indian Ocean

摘要

A 25-layer Ocean General Circulation Model has been used to investigate and analyse the model-simulated sea surface current (SSC) and sea surface temperature (SST) fields from a 26-year model simulation covering the Southern Indian Ocean region (50 degree S-10 degree N and 30-120 degree E). In general, simulated time-mean SSC and SST fields are found to agree well with the corresponding observed datasets in most parts of the model domain. All major currents such as Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Equatorial Counter Current, South Equatorial Current, North Equatorial Current and Agulhas Current are preserved in the model, as verified by the observation. However, slight variation in current intensity is reflected on monthly scale. Similarly, the pattern of time-mean monthly SST field is found to agree with Levitus climatology. However, disparities do exist as evidenced by the SST bias calculation in some parts of the model domain. The vertical profile of temperature from the model simulation is found to agree well with the Levitus climatology. It is concluded that the model is able to reproduce well, the observed structure in the ocean.