[cam-users] Hemispheric asymmetries

[Camille Li]

Hi David,

Thanks for your response.  In answer to your questions, my MLD is 50 m
everywhere all year round, and I have a seasonal cycle, but the
eccentricity is set to zero.  I actually tried starting up in Septebmer
and in March with the same symmetric ICs - the ice disappears in the SH in
both cases, although as expected, it takes a few extra years for the March
launch case.  It's puzzling as I was hoping that by making everything as
symmetric as possible, I wouldn't see these types of asymmetries.

Cheers,
Camille

> Hi Camille,
>
> As well as the ocean heat flux (Q0), do you set the mixed layer depth to
> be the same in both hemispheres (i.e., MLD, the other boundary field for
> the SOM)? When you say you have the orbital parameters set to be
> symmetric, is this the same as saying that you have it running for a
> perpetual equinox? My first thought is that if this is not the case, and
> you start up in September, the Antarctic will be seeing a summer while
> the Arctic a winter over, for instance, the subsequent DJF. As such, the
> ice might melt in the SH, while grow in the NH (or something like that)
> which would be consistent with your results.
>
> I can't imagine the diffusion is a problem, as it is set to be the same
> globally.
>
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Dave