Princeton Ocean Model
Encyclopedia
The Princeton Ocean Model (POM;users group page) is a community general numerical model for ocean circulation that can be used to simulate and predict oceanic currents, temperatures, salinities and other water properties. The code was originally developed at Princeton University
(G. Mellor and Alan Blumberg
) in collaboration with Dynalysis of Princeton (H. James Herring, Richard C. Patchen). The model incorporates the Mellor–Yamada turbulence scheme developed in the early 1970s by George Mellor and Ted Yamada; this turbulence sub-model is widely used by oceanic and atmospheric models. At the time, early computer ocean models such as the Bryan–Cox model (developed in the late 1960s at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
, GFDL, and later became the Modular Ocean Model
, MOM)), were aimed mostly at coarse-resolution simulations of the large-scale ocean circulation, so there was a need for a numerical model that can handle high-resolution coastal ocean processes. The Blumberg–Mellor model (which later became POM) thus included new features such as free surface to handle tides, sigma vertical coordinates (i.e., terrain-following) to handle complex topographies and shallow regions, a curvilinear grid to better handle coastlines, and a turbulence scheme to handle vertical mixing. At the early 1980s the model was used primarily to simulate estuaries such as the Hudson–Raritan Estuary (by Leo Oey) and the Delaware Bay
(Boris Galperin), but also first attempts to use a sigma coordinate model for basin-scale problems have started with the coarse resolution model of the Gulf of Mexico
(Blumberg and Mellor) and models of the Arctic Ocean
(with the inclusion of ice-ocean coupling by Lakshmi Kantha and Sirpa Hakkinen).
In the early 1990s when the World Wide Web
(WWW) and its browsers started to be developed, POM became one of the first ocean model codes that were provided free of charge to users through the web. The establishment of the POM users group and its web support (by Tal Ezer) resulted in a continuous increase in the number of POM users which grew from about a dozen U.S. users in the 1980s to over 1000 users in 2000 and over 4000 users by 2009; there are users from over 70 different countries. In the 1990s the usage of POM expands to simulations of the Mediterranean Sea
(Marco Zavatarelli) and the first simulations with a sigma coordinate model of the entire Atlantic Ocean
for climate research (Ezer). The development of the Mellor–Ezer optimal interpolation data assimilation
scheme that projects surface satellite data into deep layers allows the construction of the first ocean forecast systems for the Gulf Stream and the U.S. east coast running operationally at the NOAA's National Weather Service (Frank Aikman and others). Operational forecast system for other regions such as the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico
(Oey), the Gulf of Maine
(Huijie Xue) and the Hudson River
(Blumberg) followed.
In the late 1990s and the 2000s many other terrain-following community ocean models have been developed; some of their features can be traced back to features included in the original POM, other features are additional numerical and parameterization improvements. Several ocean models are direct descendents of POM such as the commercial version of POM known as the Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Model (ECOM), the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) and the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM). Recent developments in POM include a generalized coordinate system that combines sigma and z-level grids (Mellor and Ezer), inundation features that allow simulations of wetting and drying (e.g., flood of land area) (Oey), and coupling ocean currents with surface waves (Mellor). Efforts to improve turbulent mixing also continue (Galperin, Kantha, Mellor and others).
POM users meeting are held every few years (past meetings: Princeton, NJ, 1996; Miami, FL, 1998; Bar Harbor, ME, 1999; Boulder, CO, 2001; Seattle, WA, 2003). To emphasize the collaboration between scientists from North America and Europe with emerging ocean modelers in the far east, the users meetings expended its scope and became the "International Workshop on Modeling the Ocean" (IWMO), with recent meetings in Taipei, Taiwan (February IWMO-2009), Norfolk, USA (May IWMO-2010) and Qingdao, China (June, IWMO-2011). Reviewed papers from these meetings are published by Ocean Dynamics in special issues (2 published in 2010 and next planned for early 2011).
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(G. Mellor and Alan Blumberg
Alan Blumberg
Dr. Alan F. Blumberg is an oceanographer best known for his contributions to the understanding of flow processes and modeling of water bodies as well as initiatives that provide better scientific observations and forecasts for coastal urban areas....
) in collaboration with Dynalysis of Princeton (H. James Herring, Richard C. Patchen). The model incorporates the Mellor–Yamada turbulence scheme developed in the early 1970s by George Mellor and Ted Yamada; this turbulence sub-model is widely used by oceanic and atmospheric models. At the time, early computer ocean models such as the Bryan–Cox model (developed in the late 1960s at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory is a laboratory in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration /Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research . The current director is Dr. V...
, GFDL, and later became the Modular Ocean Model
Modular Ocean Model
The modular ocean model is a three-dimensional ocean circulation model designed primarily for studying the ocean climate system. The model is developed and supported primarily by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory .- Overview...
, MOM)), were aimed mostly at coarse-resolution simulations of the large-scale ocean circulation, so there was a need for a numerical model that can handle high-resolution coastal ocean processes. The Blumberg–Mellor model (which later became POM) thus included new features such as free surface to handle tides, sigma vertical coordinates (i.e., terrain-following) to handle complex topographies and shallow regions, a curvilinear grid to better handle coastlines, and a turbulence scheme to handle vertical mixing. At the early 1980s the model was used primarily to simulate estuaries such as the Hudson–Raritan Estuary (by Leo Oey) and the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
(Boris Galperin), but also first attempts to use a sigma coordinate model for basin-scale problems have started with the coarse resolution model of the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
(Blumberg and Mellor) and models of the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
(with the inclusion of ice-ocean coupling by Lakshmi Kantha and Sirpa Hakkinen).
In the early 1990s when the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
(WWW) and its browsers started to be developed, POM became one of the first ocean model codes that were provided free of charge to users through the web. The establishment of the POM users group and its web support (by Tal Ezer) resulted in a continuous increase in the number of POM users which grew from about a dozen U.S. users in the 1980s to over 1000 users in 2000 and over 4000 users by 2009; there are users from over 70 different countries. In the 1990s the usage of POM expands to simulations of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
(Marco Zavatarelli) and the first simulations with a sigma coordinate model of the entire Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
for climate research (Ezer). The development of the Mellor–Ezer optimal interpolation data assimilation
Data assimilation
Applications of data assimilation arise in many fields of geosciences, perhaps most importantly in weather forecasting and hydrology. Data assimilation proceeds by analysis cycles...
scheme that projects surface satellite data into deep layers allows the construction of the first ocean forecast systems for the Gulf Stream and the U.S. east coast running operationally at the NOAA's National Weather Service (Frank Aikman and others). Operational forecast system for other regions such as the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
(Oey), the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
(Huijie Xue) and the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
(Blumberg) followed.
In the late 1990s and the 2000s many other terrain-following community ocean models have been developed; some of their features can be traced back to features included in the original POM, other features are additional numerical and parameterization improvements. Several ocean models are direct descendents of POM such as the commercial version of POM known as the Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Model (ECOM), the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) and the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM). Recent developments in POM include a generalized coordinate system that combines sigma and z-level grids (Mellor and Ezer), inundation features that allow simulations of wetting and drying (e.g., flood of land area) (Oey), and coupling ocean currents with surface waves (Mellor). Efforts to improve turbulent mixing also continue (Galperin, Kantha, Mellor and others).
POM users meeting are held every few years (past meetings: Princeton, NJ, 1996; Miami, FL, 1998; Bar Harbor, ME, 1999; Boulder, CO, 2001; Seattle, WA, 2003). To emphasize the collaboration between scientists from North America and Europe with emerging ocean modelers in the far east, the users meetings expended its scope and became the "International Workshop on Modeling the Ocean" (IWMO), with recent meetings in Taipei, Taiwan (February IWMO-2009), Norfolk, USA (May IWMO-2010) and Qingdao, China (June, IWMO-2011). Reviewed papers from these meetings are published by Ocean Dynamics in special issues (2 published in 2010 and next planned for early 2011).