The sensitivity of a 3D biogeochemical-like tracer model to advection schemes

Multidimensional Positive Definite Advection Transport Algorithm (MPDATA) and Monotonic Upstream Schemes for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) are compared and evaluated in a biogeochemical-like tracer model. Based on the MUSCL scheme, an adapted scheme for σ-coordinate models (MUSCL_VD) is presented. These schemes are first implemented in idealized experiments configured for a closed channel with and without a seamount, and conservation is confirmed. MUSCL_VD and MUSCL generate the same results in the flat bottom case, while MUSCL_VD is the only scheme that avoids unphysical values in the seamount experiments. When implemented in a three-dimensional model of the Gulf of Maine (GoM) with realistic topography and real-time forcing, the modeled distributions of an inert tracer concentration are sensitive to the advection schemes. The experiment with MUSCL shows persistent overshoots. MPDATA and MUSCL_VD produce similar spatial distributions and seasonal cycles with MUSCL_VD being slightly more diffusive in the horizontal and less so in the vertical. These two schemes are about equally efficient in computation.