(mesh-base-mesh-task)=

# Base Mesh Tasks

The `mesh/spherical/qu/base_mesh/XXXkm/task` and
`mesh/spherical/icos/base_mesh/XXXkm/task` tasks can be used to create
spherical, uniform MPAS meshes at the given resolution that are either
quasi-uniform (`qu`) or subdivided icosahedral (`icos`).

There are also two variable-resolution base meshes: `rrs6to18km` and
`so12to30km`.

The RRS mesh has a resolution that ranges from 6 km at the poles to 18 km at
the equator, approximately scaling with the Rossby radius.

```{image} ../../../developers_guide/mesh/framework/images/rrs.png
:align: center
:width: 500 px
```

The SO mesh has a quasi-uniform, 30 km background resolution that transitions
to 12 km in a region surrounding the Southern Ocean.  The boundary of the
high-resolution region attempts to approximately follow dynamical contours in
the ocean, since rapid changes in resolution have been shown to steer ocean
currents along isocontours of resolution.

```{image} ../../../developers_guide/mesh/framework/images/so.png
:align: center
:width: 500 px
```