# 7. Verification¶

Aronnax includes a number of diagnostic test to verify that the numerical core is satisfactorily solving the equations of motion.

## 7.1. Conservation of volume¶

The test suite checks for volume conservation on each of the test simulations. The extent to which volume is conserved depends on the numerical accuracy of your simulation: large timesteps and coarse grids will reduce the accuracy of the simulation, and hence may affect volume conservation. Additionally, the use of sponge regions can affect both global and layerwise volume conservation, depending on the configuration. Table 7.1 shows when global or layerwise volume conservation can be expected.

Table 7.1 When to expect volume conservation
Physics Sponge regions? Volume conservation
Global Layerwise
n-layer Yes Yes No
n-layer No Yes Yes
n + 1/2 layer Yes No No
n + 1/2 layer No Yes Yes

## 7.2. Momentum forcing¶

The verification suite runs an ensemble of simulations with different horizontal resolutions to assess the impact of resolution on the treatment of momentum within the model. These simulations are started from rest and a single grid point in the centre of the doubly periodic domain is subjected to a small wind forcing. The model is then integrated forward in time with all explicit viscosity and drag parameters set to zero. The difference between the simulated momentum and the expected momentum provides a measure of how well the model treats momentum.

All of the simulations are integrated for one model year using the same value for $$\delta t$$. This prevents variation due integrating for different amounts of model time or using different timesteps.

### 7.2.1. Reduced gravity mode¶

The magnitude of the error varies with $$\delta x$$, suggesting it is likely due to truncation error - the error induced by solving a continuous set of equations on a discrete grid.

The evolution of momentum in the 8 km resolution test simulation using reduced gravity physics.

### 7.2.2. n-layer mode¶

When running in the n-layer mode the momentum discrepancy is much larger and exhibits different variation with $$\delta x$$.

The evolution of momentum in the 8 km resolution test simulation using n-layer physics. The simulated momentum increases linearly, as expected, but the slope is much too large - the model obtains more momentum from the wind forcing than expected. This is undesirable, and is discussed in issue #100.

## 7.3. Momentum convservation¶

The verification suite also runs simulations to assess how well the model conserves momentum. Once again all explicit drag parameters have been set to zero. The Coriolis parameter has also been set to zero to remove inertial oscillations and allow for a cleaner test.

In both the n-layer and reduced gravity modes the model conseres the initial momentum, as shown in Figure 7.5 and Figure 7.6.