The Regional Ocean Model System (
ROMS) is a free-surface, hydrostatic, primitive equation ocean model that uses stretched, terrain-following coordinates in the vertical and orthogonal curvilinear coordinates in the horizontal. Initially, it was based on the S-coordinate Rutgers University Model
(SCRUM) described by
Song and Haidvogel (1994).
ROMS was completely rewritten to improve both its numerics and efficiency in single and multi-threaded computer architectures. It also was expanded to include a variety of new features including:
1. high-order advection schemes
2. accurate pressure gradient algorithms
3. several subgrid-scale parameterizations
4. atmospheric, oceanic, and benthic boundary layers
5. biological modules
6. radiation boundary conditions
7. data assimilation.