A multi-mode model applied to the tropical oceans

A new model for the tropical ocean is described in which variations in the vertical are taken care of using vertical normal modes and the horizontal structure is taken care of by a set of linear shallow water models. The code is written in python and run in parallel and uses domain splitting in the horizontal. The model can be run in fully nonlinear mode and using generalized vertical mixing. The advantage of this approach is an almost continuous representation in the vertical and the ability to easily diagnose mode-mode interactions. The model performance is illustrated using the model of McCreary. In its original form, the McCreary model is linear and uses a very special form for the vertical mixing. Here we show preliminary results using more general vertical mixing and including nonlinearity.