Initialisation and verification of NEMO configuration (Deliverable D5.7)

This deliverable describes a numerical simulation of the global ocean state. This simulation has been run for over 1500 model years, so that ocean currents and seawater properties have reached a quasi-steady state. This equilibrated model ocean state is meant to be as close as possible to the real ocean state in the 1990s. We show that key features of this model ocean are indeed in good agreement with observations. We also present a methodology to subject this model ocean to perturbations in Antarctic freshwater fluxes. Finally, we introduce purposeful tracers in the model to analyse the spreading and impacts on ocean ventilation of anomalous freshwater fluxes from the Antarctic ice sheet.