OCEAN MODELS

Regional ocean modelling system (ROMS)

1 Introduction

A column of ocean water contains as much heat capacity as the full atmospheric column
above. Hence, the oceans, which cover roughly 70% of the earths surface, provide a large
reservoir for heat and other constituents of the earths climate system. A scientific
understanding of the oceans time mean state, as well as its variability about this mean and its
stability to various forms of perturbations, represents a key goal of physical oceanography and
climate science. Due to our inability to perform controlled experiments on large-scale systems
studied in the geosciences, computer models represent a critical tool for rationalizing climate
phenomena. Computer models are becoming the primary tools used to study and predict
physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the ocean fluid and they are being used by
all sorts of scientists. [2]

1.1 Numerical models in oceanography

The first ocean model calculated the 3-dimensional flow in the ocean using the continuity and
momentum equation with the hydrostatic1 and Boussinesq2 approximations and a simple
equation of state. Such models are called primitive equation models because they use the
basic or primitive form of the equations of motion (Figure 1). Analytic solutions of the
equations of motion are impossible to obtain for typical oceanic flows. The problem is due to
non-linear terms in the equations of motion, turbulence, and the need for realistic shapes for
the sea floor and coastlines. [3]
The ocean modeler must formulate the average equations of motion in a manner accessible to
finite computational capabilities. The approximated, averaged, closed, continuum partial
differential equations are cast into a discrete form so they are accessible to the numerical and
algebraic methods interpretable by computers. [1] So, the problems arise from several
sources:
o discrete equations are not the same as continuous equations (numerical models use
algebraic approximations to the differential equations),
o calculations of turbulence are difficult (the ocean is turbulent, and any oceanic model
capable of resolving the turbulence needs grid points spaced millimeters apart,
with time steps of milliseconds),
o practical models must be simpler than the real ocean condition (oceanographers
further simplify their models because it is not possible to run the most detailed models

1
It simplifies vertical component of the velocity, neglect of inertial accelerations in the vertical momentum
equation. Strict hydrostatic balance in all scales.
2
Density is nearly constant which simplifies equation of motion. Water is incompressible, velocities in ocean are
small compared with the speed of sound and vertical scale of motion is also small.
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 of oceanic circulation for thousands of years to understand the role of the ocean in
climate),
o numerical code has errors (elimination of all software errors is impossible).

Figure 1. Primitive Equations describing motions of geophysical flows. A is horizontal, E is vertical

eddy viscosity, E vertical eddy difusity. [1]

Although many sources of errors are present, numerical models of the ocean are giving the
most detailed and complete views of the circulation available to oceanographers. [3] When
combined with analytical methods of highly idealized configurations, laboratory experiments
of small-scale phenomena, and in situ, remote and paleoocean observations, numerical
models have become the main repository for observations and theories of ocean climate. [1]

2 Regional Ocean Modeling System - ROMS

The Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) is a primitive equation ocean model being
used by a broad community for applications from the basin to coastal and estuarine scales and
for processes from one second and minute to few decades (Figure 2). ROMS includes
accurate and efficient physical and numerical algorithms and several coupled models for
biogeochemical, bio-optical, sediment and sea ice applications. Free code is maintained by
oceanographers/computer scientists at Rutgers University. [9]

In accordance with the philosophy of giving the choice to the user to create the best setup for
specific application, several schemes are available for bottom stress, surface stress, turbulence
parameterization, boundary condition and diffusion. For time-stepping split-explicit3 time-step
is chosen. Exact details of how the time-stepping is done vary from one version of ROMS to
the next. Today exists few versions of model: Rutgers ROMS, ROMS ARGIF, UCLA ROMS
and Non-hydrostatic ROMS. Shchepetkin and McWilliams (2009) described difference
between those models. [5]

3
Explicit methods calculate the state of a system at a later time from the state of the system at the current time.
2
 Figure 2. Ocean Modeling Challenge, Space-Time Scales [6]

ROMS is a three-dimensional, free-surface, terrain-following (via s-coordinates), split-explicit

model. The hydrostatic primitive equations for momentum are solved using a split-explicit
time-stepping scheme which requires special treatment and coupling between barotropic 4
(fast) and baroclinic5 (slow) modes. A finite number of barotropic time steps, within each
baroclinic step, are carried out to evolve the free-surface and vertically integrated momentum
equations. In order to avoid the errors associated with the aliasing 6 of frequencies resolved by
the barotropic steps but unresolved by the baroclinic step, the barotropic fields are time
averaged before they replace those values obtained with a longer baroclinic step. All 2D and
3D equations are time-discretized using a third-order accurate predictor and corrector time-
stepping algorithm which is very robust and stable7. [9]

4
Flow in which the pressure is a function of the density only and vice versa. It is a flow in which isobaric
surfaces are isopycnic surfaces and vice versa.
5
It is a measure of how misaligned the gradient of pressure is from the gradient of density in a fluid. Density
lines and isobars cross in a baroclinic fluid.
6
An effect that causes different signals to become indistinguishable when reduced of a continuous-time signal to
a discrete-time signal.
7
An algorithm for solving a linear evolutionary partial differential equation is stable if the total variation of the
numerical solution at a fixed time remains bounded as the step size goes to zero (e.g. the energy of the system
does not increase with every time step).
3
In typical regional applications, the ROMS equation set is solved on a computational grid
whose spacing is too large to adequately resolve small-scale turbulent processes at the
dissipation level. Therefore these sub-grid scale processes must be parameterized 8 using a
turbulence closure model. [4] ROMS provides several methods for turbulence closure. The
horizontal mixing of momentum and tracers can be along vertical levels, geopotential
(constant depth) surfaces, or isopycnic (constant density) surfaces. The vertical mixing
parameterization can be:
o K-profile parameterization which based on MoninObukov similarity theory and
provides an estimate of the vertical mixing,
o Mellor-Yamada Lever 2.5 where the turbulent kinetic energy and length scale are used
to quantify mixing rates,
o Generic Length Scale methods. [6]

2.1 ROMS grid

The primitive equations are discretized over variable topography using stretched terrain-
following coordinates, S-coordinate helps to keep number of vertical layers independent from
the depth of the water column so the layers thicknesses vary with the depth (Figure 3). The
layers are more closely separated near the surface and bottom then in the interior, thus
allowing the boundary layers to be better resolved. This type of coordinate is most appropriate
for continental shelf and coastal regions, where the bottom and surface boundary layers may
merge. [6]
Currently, two vertical transformation equations are available which can support numerous
vertical stretching 1D-functions when several constraints are satisfied. [9] This class of model
exhibits stronger sensitivity to topography which results in pressure gradient errors. These
errors arise due to splitting of the pressure gradient term into an along-sigma component and a
hydrostatic correction. The numerical algorithm in ROMS is designed to reduce such errors.
[9]
In horizontal, ROMS uses curvilinear grid which are based on mapping of the flow domain
onto a computational domain. The general formulation of curvilinear coordinates includes
both Cartesian (constant metrics) and spherical (variable metrics) coordinates.
Model uses Arakawa C-grid where are the free-surface (), density (), and active/passive
tracers (t) are located at the centre of the cell whereas the horizontal velocity (u and v) are
located at the west/east and south/north edges of the cell, respectively. As a result, of
stretched, terrain-following, vertical coordinate, each grid cell may have different level
thickness (Hz) and volume. The model state variables are vertically staggered so that
horizontal momentum (u,v), and t are located in the centre of cell. The vertical velocity (w)
and vertical mixing variables are located at the bottom and top faces of cell. Total thickness of
the water column is (i,j) + h(i,j). The bathymetry (h) is usually time invariant (in sediment
application changes with time) whereas the free-surface evolves in time. [9]

8
Parameterizations used to include physical effects of unresolved sub-grid scale processes such as turbulence.
They need to be physically based, as simple as possible and need to include as few parameter as possible.
4
 Figure 3. ROMS grid: terrain-following and curvilinear coordinates vertical and horizontal
(Arakawa C) grids. [6]

2.2 Applications

Higher spatial resolution model is needed to resolve problems such as climate variability and
prediction (like sea level change or extreme events), coastal processes and ecosystems (e.g.
upwelling), processes in estuaries, interconnected basins or marginal seas, for investigating
processes that are better represented in higher spatial and temporal scales. Also, high
resolution global models are not practical due to requirement of extensive computational
resources and data management issues (post-processing) where it is better to use regional
model. High resolution model can be imbedded in a coarser model (Figure 4). [6]

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 Figure 4. ROMS imbedded in POP. Regional ocean model (ROMS) is used together with
global ocean model (POP) to improve global models sea surface temperatures (SST). [6]

Example of useage in Croatia is in GEKOM (Geophysical and ecological modeling) where

ROMS is used as a forecast model. ROMS model is forced with dynamic heterogeneous wind
field (from WRF/ARW model). Boundary conditions are taken from the Mediterranean
oceanographic model (MyOcean) including forcing of 7 tidal constituents. Model input also
includes data on the fresh water flows, in real-time for river Po, and modified climatologic
values for other rivers that inflow into the Adriatic Sea. ROMS model resolution for the whole
Adriatic sea is 2x2 km2. Istria, Kvarner and coastal area of Middle Adriatic are covered with
finer resolution of 500x500 m2. List of ROMS model output parameters:
o velocity and direction of sea current,
o sea surface temperature,
o salinity
o depth averaged current, depth averaged current vector,
o sea level anomaly (SLA): the difference between the total sea-level and the average
sea-level. [8]

Another project which includes ROMS is MESSI project (Meteotsunamis, destructive long
ocean waves in the tsunami frequency band: from observations and simulations towards a

6
warning system). Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries and Hydrological and
Meteorological Service participate in this project. The main objective of the MESSI project is
to build a reliable prototype of a meteotsunami warning system based on real-time
measurements, operational atmosphere and ocean modelling and real time decision-making
process, using knowledge acquired from analysis of historical destructive events. The most
prominent and destructive historical meteotsunamis will be investigated by using available
atmospheric data and tide-gauge records and reproduced with state-of-the-art numerical ocean
(ROMS, SELFE-SCHISM) and mesoscale atmospheric (ALADIN, WRF-ARW) models. [7]

3 References

[1] Cushman-Roisin, B., Beckers, J-M. (2011): Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.
Physical and Numerical Aspects. Academic Press, USA.
[2] Griffies, S.M. (2004): Fundamentals of Ocean Climate Models. Princeton University
Press, New Jersey, USA.
[3] Stewart, R.H. (2007): Introduction to Physical Oceanography. Texas A & M University.
[4] Haidvogel, D.B., et al. (2007): Ocean forecasting in terrain-following coordinates:
Formulation and skill assessment of the Regional Ocean Modelling System. Journal of
Computational Physics 227, 3595 3624.
[5] Shchepetkin, A.F., McWilliams, J.C., (2009): Correction and commentary for Ocean
forecasting in terrain-following coordinates: formulation and skill assessment of the
regional ocean modelling system by Haidvogel et al., Journal of Computational Physics
227, 3595 3624. J. of Comput. Phys. 228, 89859000.
[6] Turuncoglu, U.U. (2016): Introduction and ROMS Tutorial. 1st Regional Earth System
Modelling Summer School, IT, Informatics Institute, Turkey.
[7] http://jadran.izor.hr/~sepic/MESSI/
[8] http://www.bora.gekom.hr/
[9] https://www.myroms.org/wiki/