Scalable Lateral Mixing and Coherent Turbulence (LatMix) DRI: Turbulence-Resolving Simulations of Upper-Ocean Lateral Mixing
Abstract
Physically-based parameterizations of vertical mixed layer fluxes in ocean models characterize turbulent mixing at length scales smaller than the layer depth, but neglect the dynamics of unresolved horizontal mixing processes below their O(1)-O(10) km horizontal resolution scale. Numerical modeling can be used to test new and existing scaling predictions of surface boundary layer horizontal mixing processes in regions of significant horizontal variability, as commonly found in major ocean fronts and coastal regions. The goal of numerical modeling work in this year of the DRI is to quantify relationships between surface fluxes of heat, energy and momentum, the available baroclinic potential energy, the resultant vertical mixing and geostrophic imbalance, and the ensuing dependence of lateral mixing at successively larger scales on atmospheric forcing. The objective in simulation analysis and model-data comparison is to develop dynamic scalings for the horizontal and vertical components of turbulent kinetic energy and fluxes in baroclinic upper ocean environments. These scalings will be used to compare with observations of lateral mixing and to tune modifications of existing upper ocean boundary layer models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA601174
Entities
People
- Ramsey R. Harcourt
Organizations
- University of Washington