Model development

The MITgcm has evolved continuously since inception. Development efforts are normally driven by a desire to apply the model to a new problem. We also develop techniques that lead to general improvements in model solutions. Model development often involves more analysis than code-writing.

Some of the model developments pioneered by the MITgcm team include:

• Efficient non-hydrostatic ocean modeling
• Finite-volume method and the representation of topography
• Horizontal curvilinear coordinates and novel gridding of the sphere
• High order, non-linear (scalar) advection schemes
• New vertical coordinates for 3D modeling of shallow water domains
• Flexible domain decomposition for use on a wide range of computing platforms
• Conservative methods near moving boundaries (accurate representation of the ocean's free surface)
• Isomorphic approach to modeling different equation sets