The Role of Surface Mixing in the Seasonal Variation of the Ocean Thermal Structure
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Authors
Haney, Robert L.
Davies, Robert W.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1976-07
Date
Publisher
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Abstract
The role of surface-generated mixing in determining the seasonal variation of the ocean thermal structure
is investigated using a one-dimensional numerical model. The model contains vertical eddy diffusion with a
constant coefficient KH =0.5 cm' s-1, an instantaneous convective adjustment mechanism as commonly used
in oceanic general circulation models, and a simple parameterization of surface-generated wind and convective
mixing based on recent mixed-layer theories. Forcing on the seasonal time scale is accomplished by prescribing
the atmospheric solar radiation, longwave radiation, wind speed, temperature and dew point to vary
sinusoidally with the annual period. Results of model integrations show that surface-generated wind and convective
mixing are responsible for producing many features which are observed in the real ocean including
the occurrence of two sea surface temperature maxima-one in summer and another in early fall.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1976)006<0504:TROSMI>2.0.CO;2
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
This research was sponsored by the Office of Naval
Research and the National Science Foundation Office of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration as
part of the North Pacific Experiment under Office of
Naval Research Contract N0001476WR60020, through
NORPAX.
Funding
Format
Citation
Journal of Physical Oceanography, Volume 6, July 1976, pp. 504-510