Units of uhD, vhD in MOM_thickness_diffuse

[jskenigson]

Hello,

In MOM_thickness_diffuse, the variables uhD, vhD are described as

uhD(SZIB_(G), SZJ_(G),SZK_(GV)) ! Diffusive u*h fluxes [L2 H T-1 ~> m3 s-1 or kg s-1]

etc.

The actual output written out in the netCDF .h., .hm. files is described as having units of kg s-1. What determines whether the output is in units of m3 s-1 or kg s-1, and how exactly is this conversion being made?

Thanks very much!

 

[adcroft]

Indeed, in the code, the variable `uhD` will have units of either m3 s-1 or kg s-1, depending on whether it is Boussinesq or not. The `conversion=` at L2034-L2037 means the output is always in kg s-1. We did this because OMIP requested that all transports be in kg s-1 (GMD - OMIP contribution to CMIP6: experimental and diagnostic protocol for the physical component of the Ocean Model Intercomparison Project, appendix I1).