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Title: Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract

The suitability of using linear drag as a proxy for surface friction in the observed climatological-mean momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean is evaluated. Climatological seasonal-mean fields of sea level pressure and surface wind from the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set are used to calculate the pressure gradient, Coriolis, and acceleration terms in the momentum budget; friction is derived as a residual. It is found that when friction is parameterized as a linear dissipation of kinetic energy, the damping time scale for the meridional wind is about 2-3 times faster than the damping time for the zonal wind. It is suggested that the different damping coefficients for the zonal and meridional winds are, in part, a reflection of the different vertical profiles of u and v in the planetary boundary layer. 18 refs.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Cooperative Inst. for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6459268
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Climate; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 6:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0894-8755
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; PACIFIC OCEAN; METEOROLOGY; TROPICAL REGIONS; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS; BOUNDARY LAYERS; DRAG; ENERGY LOSSES; KINETIC ENERGY; WIND; ENERGY; LAYERS; LOSSES; SEAS; SURFACE WATERS; 540110*

Citation Formats

Deser, C. Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1993)006<0064:DOTSMB>2.0.CO;2.
Deser, C. Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1993)006<0064:DOTSMB>2.0.CO;2
Deser, C. 1993. "Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1993)006<0064:DOTSMB>2.0.CO;2.
@article{osti_6459268,
title = {Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean},
author = {Deser, C},
abstractNote = {The suitability of using linear drag as a proxy for surface friction in the observed climatological-mean momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean is evaluated. Climatological seasonal-mean fields of sea level pressure and surface wind from the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set are used to calculate the pressure gradient, Coriolis, and acceleration terms in the momentum budget; friction is derived as a residual. It is found that when friction is parameterized as a linear dissipation of kinetic energy, the damping time scale for the meridional wind is about 2-3 times faster than the damping time for the zonal wind. It is suggested that the different damping coefficients for the zonal and meridional winds are, in part, a reflection of the different vertical profiles of u and v in the planetary boundary layer. 18 refs.},
doi = {10.1175/1520-0442(1993)006<0064:DOTSMB>2.0.CO;2},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6459268}, journal = {Journal of Climate; (United States)},
issn = {0894-8755},
number = ,
volume = 6:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}