Oceanic mixed layer entrainment zone dynamics

The Naval Postgraduate School mixed layer model is augmented to include an entrainment zone with finite thickness. The role of entrainment shear production of turbulent kinetic energy is investigated by comparing model results that include the new entrainment zone with observations at Ocean Weather Station Papa in the North Pacific and with model predictions that do not include the new entrainment zone feature. Although it is not yet clear that annual- period model forecasts are improved significantly, it is shown that the entrainment zone processes play a significant role in vertical fluxes and in the turbulent kinetic energy budget of the upper ocean under warming conditions. Furthermore, it is found that the improved entrainment zone more accurately reproduces the temperature gradients of transient thermoclines observed at OWS Papa.

Department dc:contributor.department

Meteorology and Physical Oceanography

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

1990

Author dc:creator

• Beard, Robert L.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Garwood, R.W.

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/34869

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/34869