A Solver for the Barotropic Mode in the Presence of Variable Topography and Islands

Abstract

A scheme is presented for solving the equation for barotropic ocean circulation, taking into account the special character of the problem: nearly inviscid motion following f/H contours in the ocean interior, with viscous effects closing the flow near western boundaries. Using a special compact finite-difference discretization, the scheme generates boundary layers without spurious oscillations and without demanding very high resolution. Sharp changes in topography and closed f/H contours (e.g., in the vicinity of high sea mounts) are also handled by the scheme in a way that localizes errors due to underresolved topographic features. Strategies are formulated for simplifying the connectedness of the domain by ?sinking? the islands.