The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

TLDR

FESOM is the first global ocean general circulation model using unstructured‑mesh methods, offering flexible multi‑resolution capabilities for climate research. The study provides an overview of FESOM’s main features, explains parameter choices from sensitivity experiments, and outlines future development directions. The authors review FESOM’s features, analyze parameter choices via sensitivity experiments, and propose future development directions. The authors argue that FESOM is mature enough to explore multi‑resolution climate modelling benefits and that its applications will aid the advancement of unstructured‑mesh climate modelling. Abstract.

Abstract

Abstract. The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) is the first global ocean general circulation model based on unstructured-mesh methods that has been developed for the purpose of climate research. The advantage of unstructured-mesh models is their flexible multi-resolution modelling functionality. In this study, an overview of the main features of FESOM will be given; based on sensitivity experiments a number of specific parameter choices will be explained; and directions of future developments will be outlined. It is argued that FESOM is sufficiently mature to explore the benefits of multi-resolution climate modelling and that its applications will provide information useful for the advancement of climate modelling on unstructured meshes.