Publication Abstracts

Canuto and Dubovikov 2011

Canuto, V.M., and M.S. Dubovikov, 2011: Comparison of four mixed layer mesoscale parameterizations and the equation for an arbitrary tracer. Ocean Model., 39, 200-207, doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2011.04.008.

In this paper we discuss two issues, the inter-comparison of four mixed layer mesoscale parameterizations and the search for the eddy induced velocity for an arbitrary tracer. It must be stressed that our analysis is limited to mixed layer mesoscales since we do not treat sub-mesoscales and small turbulent mixing.

As for the first item, since three of the four parameterizations are expressed in terms of a stream function and a residual flux of the RMT formalism (residual mean theory), while the fourth is expressed in terms of vertical and horizontal fluxes, we needed a formalism to connect the two formulations. The standard RMT representation developed for the deep ocean cannot be extended to the mixed layer since its stream function does not vanish at the ocean's surface.

We develop a new RMT representation that satisfies the surface boundary condition. As for the general form of the eddy induced velocity for an arbitrary tracer, thus far, it has been assumed that there is only the one that originates from the curl of the stream function. This is because it was assumed that the tracer residual flux is purely diffusive.

On the other hand, we show that in the case of an arbitrary tracer, the residual flux has also a skew component that gives rise to an additional bolus velocity. Therefore, instead of only one bolus velocity, there are now two, one coming from the curl of the stream function and other from the skew part of the residual flux. In the buoyancy case, only one bolus velocity contributes to the mean buoyancy equation since the residual flux is indeed only diffusive.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ca00420e,
  author={Canuto, V. M. and Dubovikov, M. S.},
  title={Comparison of four mixed layer mesoscale parameterizations and the equation for an arbitrary tracer},
  year={2011},
  journal={Ocean Modeling},
  volume={39},
  pages={200--207},
  doi={10.1016/j.ocemod.2011.04.008},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ca00420e
AU  - Canuto, V. M.
AU  - Dubovikov, M. S.
PY  - 2011
TI  - Comparison of four mixed layer mesoscale parameterizations and the equation for an arbitrary tracer
JA  - Ocean Model.
JO  - Ocean Modeling
VL  - 39
SP  - 200
EP  - 207
DO  - 10.1016/j.ocemod.2011.04.008
ER  -

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