A Comparison of Two Numerical Methods for Integrating a Quasi-geostrophic Multilayer Model of Ocean Circulations: Finite Element and Finite Difference Methods

✍ Scribed by Christian LeProvost; Christine Bernier; Eric Blayo

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 845 KB
• Volume: 110
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9991
• DOI: 10.1006/jcph.1994.1031

✦ Synopsis

To study the feasibility of using the finite elements method for ocean modelling, a quasi-geostrophic eddy resolving general circulation model has been driven, using either a classical finite differences technique or a finite elements technique. This feasibility has been clearly demonstrated, and a comparison of the models' performances shows that, for simulations of realistic basins, the finite elements model CPU cost is only four times the finite difference model cost. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.