A numerical parameterization of wind mixing in a time dependent baroclinic oceanic general circulation model

Abstract

This work is directed toward improving an existing general circulation model (Haney 1974) through the inclusion of time dependent surface boundary conditions and a wind mixing parameterization. Climatological atmospheric values, functions of time, provided the model the needed parameters in order to calculate solar insolation, longwave back radiation from the ocean, sensible heat exchange and latent heat exchange. The mixing parameterization involved the use of the Monin-Obukov length scale as a measure of the mixed layer depth. The first law of thermodynamics was used to calculate the form of eddy flux above the mixed layer depth. A one-dimensional model using two different types of boundary conditions was used to test various parameters and ideas. The boundary condition similar to that used in the baroclinic model produced results through an interacting system that appeared similar to observation at Ocean Station "N". The three-dimensional model was integrated through 10 years of times. Results showed a lack of a paramanent thermocline due to a strong vertical diffusion. A lack of behavior attributable to mixing was noticed, indicating the climatological winds were too weak for mixing.