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The present work aims at evaluating the scalability performance of a high-resolution global ocean biogeochemistry model (PELAGOS025) on massive parallel architectures and the benefits in terms of the time-to-solution reduction. PELAGOS025 is an on-line coupling between the physical ocean model NEMO and the BFM biogeochemical model. Both the models use a parallel domain decomposition along the horizontal dimension. The parallelisation is based on the message passing paradigm. The performance analysis has been done on two parallel architectures, an IBM BlueGene/Q at ALCF (Argonne Leadership Computing Facilities) and an IBM iDataPlex with Sandy Bridge processors at CMCC (Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change). The outcome of the analysis demonstrated that the lack of scalability is due to several factors such as the I/O operations, the memory contention, the load unbalancing due to the memory structure of the BFM component and, for the BlueGene/Q, the absence of a hybrid parallelisation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prognostic simulations of ocean carbon distribution are largely dependent on an adequate representation of physical dynamics. In this work we show that the assimilation of temperature and salinity in a coupled ocean-biogeochemical model significantly improves the reconstruction of the carbonate system variables over the last two decades. For this purpose, we use the NEMO ocean global circulation model, coupled to the Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM) in the global PELAGOS configuration. The assimilation of temperature and salinity is included into the coupled ocean-biogeochemical model by using a variational assimilation method. The use of ocean physics data assimilation improves the simulation of alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon against the control run as assessed by comparing with independent time series and gridded datasets. At the global scale, the effects of the assimilation of physical variables in the simulation of pCO2 improves the seasonal cycle in all basins, getting closer to the SOCAT estimates. Biases in the partial pressure of CO2 with respect to data that are evident in the control run are reduced once the physical data assimilation is used. The root mean squared errors in the pCO2 are reduced by up to 30% depending on the ocean basin considered. In addition, we quantify the relative contribution of biological carbon uptake on surface pCO2 by performing another simulation in which biology is neglected in the assimilated run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present manuscript compares Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS 5, 125-115 kyr BP) and MIS 7 (236- 229 kyr BP) with the aim to investigate the origin of the difference in ice-sheet growth over the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes between these last two inceptions. Our approach combines a low resolution coupled atmosphere- ocean-sea-ice general circulation model and a 3-D thermomechanical ice-sheet model to simulate the state of the ice sheets associated with the inception climate states of MIS 5 and MIS 7. Our results show that external forcing (orbitals and GHG) and sea-ice albedo feedbacks are the main factors responsible for the difference in the land-ice initial state between MIS 5 and MIS 7 and that our cold climate model bias impacts more during a cold inception, such as MIS 7, than during a warm inception, such as MIS 5. In addition, if proper ice-elevation and albedo feedbacks are not taken into consideration, the evolution towards glacial inception is hardly simulated, especially for MIS 7. Finally, results highlight that while simulated ice volumes for MIS 5 glacial inception almost fit with paleo-reconstructions, the lack of precipitation over high latitudes, identified as a bias of our climate model, does not allow for a proper simulation of MIS 7 glacial inception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present manuscript compares the last two glacial inceptions, Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS5, 125-115 kyr BP) and MIS7 (236-229 kyr BP) with the aim to detect the relative impact of external forcing (orbitals and GHG) and ice-albedo feedbacks on the ice sheets growth and distribution in the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes. In order to investigate the differences between those two states, we combine atmosphere- ocean coupled model experiments and off-line ice-sheet-model simulations. In particular, we use a low resolution coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Sea-ice general circulation model to simulate the mean climate of the four time periods associated with the inception states of MIS5 and MIS7 (i.e. 236, 229, 125 and 115 kyr BP). The four mean states are then use to force a 3-D thermodynamical ice sheet model by means of two types of ice sheet experiments, i.e., steady-state and transient experiments. Our results show that steady-state ice experiments underestimate the ice volume at both 229 kyr BP and 115 kyr BP. On the other hand, the simulated pre-inception ice distributions at 236 kyr BP and 125 kyr BP are in good agreement with observations indicating that during these periods feedbacks associated with external forcing dominate over other processes. However, if proper ice-elevation and albedo feedbacks are not taken into consideration, the evolution towards glacial inception in terms of ice volume and extent is hardly simulated. The experimental setup chosen allows us to conclude that, depending on the mean background climate state, the effect of model biases on climate are more important during a cold inception, such as MIS7, than during a warm inception, such as MIS5. The last results suggest to be cautious when tuning and calibrating Earth System Models on a specific time period, mainly for the purpose of ice sheet-climate coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a methodology to correct precipitation fluxes from the ECMWF atmospheric reanalysis (ERA-Interim) for oceanographic applications. The correction is performed by means of a spatially varying monthly climatological coefficient, computed within the period 1989-2008 by comparison between ERA-Interim and a satellite-based passive microwave precipitation product. ERA-Interim exhibits a systematic over-estimation of precipitation within the inter-tropical convergence zones (up to 3mmd-1) and underestimation at mid- and high- latitudes (up to -4mmd-1). The correction has been validated within eddy-permitting resolution global ocean hindcasts (1989-2009), demon strating the ability of our strategy in attenuating the 20-yr mean global EMP negative imbalance by 16 %, reducing the near-surface salinity fresh bias in the Tropics up to 1 psu and improving the representation of the sea level interannual variability, with an SSH error decrease of 8%. The ocean circulation is also proved to benefit from the correction, especially in correspondence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, where the error in the near-surface current speed decreases by a 9%. Finally, we show that the correction leads to volume and freshwater transports that better agree with independent estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Ocean Biogeochemistry General Circulation models are useful tools to study biogeochemical processes at gobal and large scales under current climate and future scenario conditions. The accuracy of the future estimate is however dependent on the adequate representation of the current ocean biogeochemical features. To this purpose, the results of an interannual simulation of the global ocean biogeochemical model PELAGOS have been objectively compared with multi-variate observations from the last 20 years of the XX century. The model was assessed in terms of spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll and primary production derived from satellite sensors, with a specific focus on the simulation of carbon production/consumption rates observed in the equatorial Pacific ocean and at the long-term JGOFS stations. The predicted chlorophyll is acceptable in the northern mid-latitude regions and equatorial Pacific, but is underestimated in the upwelling regions of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and markedly overestimated in the Southern Ocean. This latter bias is linked to the in adequate representation of the mixed layer seasonal cycle in the region, which favours primary production during austral spring. Simulated primary production is comparable with satellite estimates both at the global scale and when compared with an independent data-set in the equatorial Pacific. A comparison with other models showed that PELAGOS results are as good as the estimates from state-of-the-art diagnostic models based on satellite data. The skill in reproducing the interannual varibility was assessed in the equatorial Pacific and against the decadal JGOFS timeseries BATS and HOT. In the tropical Pacific our analysis suggests that interannual variability of primary production is related to the climate variability both in the observations and in the model. At the JGOFS stations PELAGOS has skill to simulate the observed bacterial biomass and shows realistic means of primary and bacterial production at BATS. These results have been further strenghtened with an analysis of spatial variability of microbial carbon production/consumption and comparison with observations along a transect in the Atlantic ocean. Within the limits of the model assumption and known biases, PELAGOS predicts that the system is net heterotrophic if the boreal winter period only is considered and especially in the more oligotrophic regions. However, at the annual time scale and over the global ocean, the model suggests that surface ocean is close to a slightly positive autotrophic balance in accordance with recent experimental findings and geochemical evidences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the relationship between deep sedimentary fluxes and ocean current vertical velocities in an offshore area of the Ionian Sea, the deepest basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediment trap data are collected at 500 m and 2800 m depth in two successive moorings covering the period September 1999-May 2001. A tight coupling is observed between the upper and deep traps and the estimated particle sinking rates are more than 200 m day-1. The current vertical velocity field is computed from a 1/16°x 1/16° Ocean General Circulation Model simulation and from the wind stress curl. Current vertical velocities are larger and more variable than Ekman vertical velocities, yet the general patterns are alike. Current vertical velocities are generally smaller than 1 m day-1: we therefore exclude a direct effect of downward velocities in determining high sedimentation rates. However we find that upward velocities in the subsurface layers of the water column are positively correlated with deep particle fluxes. We thus hypothesize that upwelling would produce an increase in upper ocean nutrient levels - thus stimulating primary production and grazing - a few weeks before an enhanced vertical flux is found in the sediment traps. High particle sedimentation rates may be attained by means of rapidly sinking fecal pellets produced by gelatinous macro-zooplankton. Other sedimentation mechanisms, such as dust deposition, are also considered in explaining large pulses of deep particle fluxes. The fast sinking rates estimated in this study might be an evidence of the efficiency of the biological pump in sequestering organic carbon from the surface layers of the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the relationship between deep sedimentary fluxes and ocean current vertical velocities in an offshore area of the Ionian Sea, the deepest basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediment trap data are collected at 500 m and 2800 m depth in two successive moorings covering the period September 1999-May 2001. A tight coupling is observed between the upper and deep traps and the estimated particle sinking rates are higher than 200 m day-1. The current vertical velocity field is computed from a high resolution Ocean General Circulation Model simulation and from the wind stress curl. Current vertical velocities are larger and more variable than Ekman vertical velocities, yet the general patterns are alike. Current vertical velocities are generally smaller than 1 m day-1: we therefore exclude a direct effect of downward velocities in determining high sedimentation rates. However, we find that upward velocities in the subsurface layers of the water column are positively correlated with deep particle fluxes. We thus hypothesize that upwelling would produce an increase in upper ocean nutrient levels — thus stimulating primary production and grazing — a few weeks before an enhanced vertical flux is found in the sediment traps. By analyzing the delayed effects of ocean vertical velocities on deep particle fluxes we envisage a spectrum of particle sinking speeds ranging from about 100 m day-1 to more than 200 m day-1. High particle sedimentation rates may be attained by means of rapidly 20 sinking fecal pellets produced by gelatinous macro-zooplankton. Other sedimentation mechanisms, such as dust deposition, are also considered in explaining large pulses of deep particle fluxes. The fast sinking rates estimated in this study might be an evidence of the efficiency of the biological pump in sequestering organic carbon from the surface layers of the deep Eastern Mediterranean basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]