Assimilation of Earth rotation parameters into a global ocean model: length of day excitation |
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| Authors: | Jan Saynisch Manfred Wenzel Jens Schröter |
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| Institution: | (1) Kanalpromenade 3, 14513 Teltow, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Changes in the oceanic current system and in the oceanic mass distribution alter, together with other processes, the state
of the Earth’s rotation. This state is characterized by the length of day (LOD) and the tilt of the pole-to-pole axis. The
aim of our study was to derive the respective governing physical mechanisms in the ocean. Therefore, Earth rotation observations
were assimilated into a global circulation model of the ocean. Although assimilation is a well-established tool in climate
science, the assimilation of Earth rotation observations into a global ocean model was done here for the first time. Prior
to the assimilation, the Earth rotation observations were projected onto the angular momentum of the ocean. Non-oceanic contributions
were removed. The result of the subsequent assimilation procedure is a time varying ocean model state that reproduces the
projected Earth rotation observations well. This solution was studied to understand the oceanic generation of Earth rotation
deviations and to identify governing physical mechanisms. This paper focuses on LOD anomalies although polar motion was assimilated
simultaneously. Our results indicate that changes in the oceanic LOD excitation are mostly attributed to changes in total
ocean mass. Changes in the spatial distribution of ocean mass turned out to have a minor contribution to the LOD deviations.
The same applies to changes in the current system. |
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