Ocean Dynamics in Kilometre-Scale ICON Simulations

We present the rich and versatile ocean dynamics emerging from a novel set of ICON ocean simulations with grid spacings around and below 1 km. 
Such configurations not only permit the explicit formation of submesoscale eddies but also enable a substantially richer representation of internal wave dynamics. 
We discuss the implications of these newly resolved processes for tracer transport, both by the explicitly resolved flow and through parameterized mixing processes. 
In particular, we demonstrate that submesoscale overturning along ocean fronts is explicitly resolved in these simulations. 
We further show how this overturning modifies density stratification and thereby interacts with small-scale turbulent processes. 
In addition, we demonstrate that the resolved portion of the internal wave spectrum is substantially extended at this resolution. 
Finally, we present first results illustrating how the improved representation of physical processes affects marine biogeochemistry. 
We conclude with an outlook on how these advances can improve the simulation of tropical upwelling systems in this new generation of ocean model configurations.