Performance of the Adriatic Sea and Coast (AdriSC) climate component – a COAWST V3.3-based one-way coupled atmosphere–ocean modelling suite: ocean results

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, the Adriatic Sea and Coast (AdriSC) kilometre-scale\natmosphere–ocean climate model covering the Adriatic Sea and northern Ionian\nSea is presented. The AdriSC ocean results of a 31-year-long (i.e.\n1987–2017) climate simulation, derived with the Regional Ocean Modeling\nSystem (ROMS) 3\u2009km and 1\u2009km models, are evaluated with respect to a\ncomprehensive collection of remote sensing and in situ observational data. In general, it is found that the AdriSC model is capable of reproducing the\nobserved sea surface properties, daily temperatures and salinities, and the\nhourly ocean currents with good accuracy. In particular, the AdriSC ROMS\n3\u2009km model demonstrates skill in reproducing the main variabilities of the\nsea surface height and the sea surface temperature, despite a\npersistent negative bias within the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, the AdriSC\nROMS 1\u2009km model is found to be more capable of reproducing the observed\nthermohaline and dynamical properties than the AdriSC ROMS 3\u2009km model. For\nthe temperature and salinity, better results are obtained in the deeper\nparts than in the shallow shelf and coastal parts, particularly for the\nsurface layer of the Adriatic Sea. The AdriSC ROMS 1\u2009km model is also found\nto perform well in reproducing the seasonal thermohaline properties of the\nwater masses over the entire Adriatic–Ionian domain. The evaluation of the\nmodelled ocean currents revealed better results at locations along the\neastern coast and especially the northeastern shelf than in the\nmiddle eastern coastal area and the deepest part of the Adriatic Sea.\nFinally, the AdriSC climate component is found to be a more suitable\nmodelling framework to study the dense water formation and long-term\nthermohaline circulation of the Adriatic–Ionian basin than the available\nMediterranean regional climate models.\n