Testing and Comparison of Several Mixed-Layer Models

Abstract

Several models of the upper mixed layer of the ocean (Mellor-Yamada Level 2 and 2 1/2, Niiler, Garwood, Price, and Therry-Lacarrere) were compared using (a) idealized forcing that consisted of cases of wind deepening, heating, and cooling, (b) data from Ocean Stations November and Papa, (c) data taken during the Mixed-Layer Experiment (MILE), and (d) data taken from R/P FLIP in the spring of 1980 about 400 km off California. Comparisons with both idealized and observed forcing show the differences among the models to be significant. Differences are especially noticeable for the deepening of the mixed layer in the fall and winter due to wind mixing and convection, and for the shallowing of the mixed layer during light winds and strong heating. Although evaluation of the models is complicated by uncertainties (primarily with regard to advective effects and forcing), the results suggest certain deficiences in some of the mixing parameterizations. Keywords: Mixed layer (Marine); Ocean models; Pacific Ocean; Air water interactions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA175959

Entities

People

  • Paul J. Martin

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Water Interactions
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Buoyancy
  • Classification
  • Convection
  • Data Sets
  • Equations
  • Heat Flux
  • Meteorology
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Radiation
  • Richardson Number
  • Security
  • Solar Radiation
  • Turbulent Mixing

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Systems Analysis and Design