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5x4 Atmosphere-Ocean Model Documentation

The NASA/GISS Atmosphere-Ocean Model is a continually evolving computer program written in Fortran. There are different files that describe the Model in different mathematical languages: English, algorithm notation, and the Fortran source code which is the definitive reference. The first two languages contain incomplete, piecemeal, and occasionally inaccurate descriptions of the Model; the algorithm notation files may use a symbol set which is currently unreadable on the web. Several publications discuss various aspects of the Atmosphere-Ocean Model.

In English:
ATMOCEAN.TXT Basic formulation of the Atmosphere-Ocean Model.
SEAICE.TXT Thermodynamic and dynamic aspects of sea ice.
DIAGNOST.TXT List of unscaled diagnostics stored in each monthly D file.
In algorithm notation:
COMBLOCK.TXT Terse desciptions of variables in the Model common blocks that are used extensively in the Model code.
DIAGCONS.TXT Shows relationships between "Conservation" and "Budget Pages" diagnostics; checks conservation of mass and static energy by the Atmosphere-Ocean Model.
ENRGTRAN.TXT Calculation of horizontal energy transport in the atmosphere from the Model's diagnostic of potential enthalpy transport.
ERL.TXT Discussion of Energy Reference Levels and various forms of latent energy. This is more appropriate for future versions of the Model.
FFT.TXT Formulas used for derivation of fast Fourier transforms which is used by the Model's atmospheric polar filter.
PHYSICS.TXT Calculation of surface fluxes including the complicated implicit time scheme used. This file is frequently being revised.
RELHUM.TXT Calculation of relative humidity from specific humidity and temperature.
STRAIT.TXT Calculation of mass, heat and salt through the Model's ocean straits.


GEN INFO LINE PLOTS MODEL DATA UNIX MODEL CODE PEOPLE SUNLIGHT
STATISTICS COLOR PLOTS OBSERVA PC MODEL DOC PUBLICA TIDES and MOON

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Curator: Gary L. Russell . . . . . 2004/11/16/17:26:34