Oceanic thermal response to a time-dependent hurricane model.

Abstract

A layer-ocean model was developed based on the mixed layer models of Kraus and Turner (1967) and Denman (1972). The ocean model was coupled to Pearson's (1972) time varying, symmetrical-stationary hurricane model which was based on a model proposed by Riehl (1963), and in which the air-sea interaction was specified by Cardone's (1969) extension of Blackadar's (1965) two-layer, baroclinic boundary-layer model. Time-dependent solutions for ocean mixed layer depth and temperature were obtained in response to interaction with the atmospheric model Solutions indicated that the interaction between entrainment mixing and upwelling was most important in changing mixed-layer depth and temperature. Radiational effects, internal waves, turbulent scale energy dissipation, and large-scale ocean currents were not included in the present ocean model.