Global performance evaluation of an unstructured mesh ocean-sea ice coupled model (E3SMv2-MPAS)
摘要
This study evaluates the 1995–2020 global ocean-sea ice simulation using the unstructured-mesh model for prediction across scales (MPAS)-ocean/sea ice model within energy exascale earth system model (E3SM) version 2.1 (E3SMv2-MPAS) at 60 km to 10 km resolution. Multi-source observational data are utilized to validate sea surface temperature/salinity, sea ice, three-dimensional thermal-saline structures, mixed layer depth, ocean heat content, and sea surface height. Key results show the following: (1) E3SMv2-MPAS captures seasonal-to-decadal variability in surface fields and sea ice, but shows systematic biases in sea surface temperature of western boundary currents (inadequate eddy parameterization) and Arctic sea surface salinity (misrepresented freshwater fluxes and mixing processes). (2) The model robustly represents three-dimensional climate variability, yet underestimates mixed layer depth in key regions (Antarctic Circumpolar Current and North Atlantic), revealing deficiencies in extreme mixing. (3) Ocean heat content distributions are well-simulated. (4) Sea surface height spatial patterns and interannual variability are accurately reproduced. This work identifies critical refinements for unstructured-mesh models: mesoscale eddy parameterization, polar ocean-sea ice coupling, and multi-scale energy processes, advancing high-resolution climate model development and laying the groundwork for improved ocean forecasting systems.