Numerical Process Studies of Continuum Internal Wave Dynamics: Steady-State Spectral and Downscale Energy Transports

Abstract

Long-term goals are to develop parameterizations of internal-wave driven turbulent mixing in a coastal environment suitable for use in regional numerical models. The objectives are: 1. To investigate the dependence of coastal diapycnal mixing on aspects of low-mode, low-frequency internal waves that may feasibly be resolved by a regional numerical model, including: internal wave frequency (generally tidal or wind-generated near-inertial waves), vertical wave structure, wave strength, latitude (some wave instabilities are strongly latitude dependent). 2. To test the underlying assumptions and kinematic scalings of various proposed coastal mixing parameterizations, including KPP, the Gregg-Henyey scaling [Gregg, 1989], the scaling proposed by D'Asaro and Lien [2000], and the MacKinnon-Gregg scaling [MacKinnon and Gregg, 2003].

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA527011

Entities

People

  • Jennifer MacKinnon

Organizations

  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Band Spectra
  • Boundary Layer
  • Dissipation
  • Dynamics
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Frequency
  • Internal Waves
  • Mixing
  • Numbers
  • Simulations
  • Spectra
  • Steady State
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Turbulence
  • Turbulent Mixing
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers