Evaporation Effects on the Mediterranean Sea Mixed Layer Dynamics
Abstract
The OPBL (Oceanic Planetary Boundary Layer) model is used to determine the relative effects of the seasonally varying surface fluxes of heat, salt and momentum on the seasonal thermocline and mixed layer in the Mediterranean Sea. Three combinations of surface forcing are tested to find their contributions to mixing. In the first case free convection forcing and, in the second case wind forced convection and buoyancy flux due only to heat are considered to determine their individual effects on the mixed layer deepening. Then in the third case both free and wind forced convections are applied to the model in order to determine their combined effect on the mixed layer depth. As a result, evaporation is shown to have a significant impact on the mixed layer deepening and on the temperature and salinity structure of the seasonal pycnocline. It has been shown that deepening due to evaporation exceeds the deepening due to wind stress between October and January. In the late winter the strong, cold, dry winds from North to Northwest (Mistral, Tramontane) causes forced convection which exceeds the deepening due to evaporation at this time of the year. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA202088
Entities
People
- Ahmet Turker
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School