Large-Eddy Simulations of Baroclinic Instability and Turbulent Mixing

Abstract

The long-term goal of this project is to improve our ability to understand, model and predict lateral mixing and the associated submesoscale physical structure and processes in the upper and interior ocean. The main objective of this project is to examine the interaction between baroclinic, mesoscale eddies and turbulence using a large-eddy simulation (LES) model. Cases will focus on strong, baroclinic waves that form in the mixed layer along surface fronts with scales of a few km, and on mesoscale eddies that are imbedded within larger scale frontal regions. Our goal is to quantify, understand, and ultimately parameterize the physical processes that lead to lateral mixing. Simulations will help guide field experiments planned as part of the Lateral Mixing DRI, and provide a tool for understanding observations in the analysis phase of the project.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2010
Accession Number
ADA542829

Entities

People

  • Eric D. Skyllingstad
  • Roger M. Samelson

Organizations

  • Oregon State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundaries
  • Buoyancy
  • Climate Change
  • Geostrophic Currents
  • High Resolution
  • Instability
  • Large Eddy Simulation
  • Mixing
  • Oceans
  • Simulations
  • Surface Temperature
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Three Dimensional
  • Turbulence
  • Turbulent Mixing
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers