Simulation of the Bohai Sea circulation and theromohaline structure using COHERENS model
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Authors
Obino, Rodrigo S.
Subjects
Advisors
Chur, Peter C.
Date of Issue
2002-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The goals of this work are to simulate the Bohai Sea circulation and thermohaline structure and to investigate the physical mechanisms using the Coupled Hydrodynamical-Ecological Model for Regional and Shelf Seas (COHERENS) with realistic bottom topography and coastal geometry. The model-simulated seasonal variability of the circulation pattern and the thermal structure agree qualitatively with the observation. The salinity field is not as well simulated as the temperature. The thermohaline structure is vertically stratified during the summer monsoon. The sub-surface velocities are found to be compensating currents from the surface circulation. Several experiments are performed to identify the prevailing forcing functions and Bohai Sea characteristics: (1) control run, with all the surface forcing functions (thermohaline fluxes, wind, tides) present, (2) no-thermohaline flux run, (3) no-wind run, and (4) no-tide run. The experiments show that the surface wind effect is the major forcing to drive the surface currents and the thermohaline structure, the thermohaline flux is the important driving force for the thermal structure, and the tidal mixing is responsible for the deep layer characteristics. It is also found that a higher turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is produced using the Mellor-Yamada turbulence closure scheme than the "k-"Ì scheme. The deeper regions present higher TKE at the surface than in shallow waters. Maximum TKE for July are greater than the maximum TKE in January.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xviii, 122 p. : ill. (some col.), maps
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.