Impact of Typhoons on the Western Pacific Ocean DRI: Numerical Modeling of Ocean Mixed Layer Turbulence and Entrainment at High Winds
Abstract
This study contributes to our long-term efforts toward understanding: Mixed layer dynamics and Processes that communicate atmospheric forcing to the ocean interior. This ongoing collaborative effort is measuring and modeling the response of the upper ocean to strong typhoons both in simple, open ocean conditions and in the more complex conditions caused by ocean eddies and preconditioning by prior storms. The measurement and modeling activities include a focus on the impact of surface waves, air-sea fluxes and the temperature, salinity and velocity structure of the upper ocean. The goals of this effort are to understand key upper ocean processes, test upper ocean models, develop and test new parameterizations of upper ocean physics used and study the feedback from the ocean to typhoon intensity. The approach of the modeling component is to use field observations to force Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and upper ocean turbulence models in equivalent numerical cases and to use model-data comparison to test the theoretical basis of mixed layer turbulence scalings and parameterizations. The strategy is to test our physical theories and parameterizations of mixed layer dynamics against data by incorporating them realistically in turbulence-resolving LES models with embedded virtual measurements. Verification of the underlying theories can then be achieved through direct model-data comparison, using observations of ocean waves and turbulence under a wide range of oceanic conditions, and leading to improved parameterizations of upper ocean turbulence. The strong and isolated wind forcing in tropical cyclones provides an ideal environment for testing theories and parameterizations of the role of surface waves in the ocean mixed layer. This follows similar work in CBLAST exploiting the comprehensive view of boundary layer turbulence made possible by the combination of Lagrangian float and EM-APEX measurements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA590609
Entities
People
- Ramsey R. Harcourt
Organizations
- University of Washington