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Title: Comparing Ocean Surface Boundary Vertical Mixing Schemes Including Langmuir Turbulence

Journal Article · · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001810· OSTI ID:1597346
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5]; ORCiD logo [6];  [7]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [8];  [9]; ORCiD logo [10];  [6]; ORCiD logo [11];  [12];  [6]; ORCiD logo [13];  [11]; ORCiD logo [9]
  1. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Princeton, NJ (United States). Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab.; Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
  3. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States)
  4. NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USA; Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic SciencesPrinceton University Princeton NJ USA
  5. Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter (United Kingdom)
  6. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
  7. Univ. of Reading (United Kingdom)
  8. Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI (United States)
  9. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
  10. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
  11. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  12. Brown Univ., Providence, RI (United States); Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
  13. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Six recent Langmuir turbulence parameterization schemes and five traditional schemes are implemented in a common single-column modeling framework and consistently compared. These schemes are tested in scenarios versus matched large eddy simulations, across the globe with realistic forcing (JRA55-do,WAVEWATCH-III simulated waves) and initial conditions (Argo), and under realistic conditions as observed at ocean moorings. Traditional non-Langmuir schemes systematically underpredict large eddy simulation vertical mixing under weak convective forcing, while Langmuir schemes vary in accuracy. Under global, realistic forcing Langmuir schemes produce 6% (–1% to 14% for 90% confidence) or 5.2 m (–0.2 m to 17.4 m for 90% confidence) deeper monthly mean mixed layer depths than their non-Langmuir counterparts, with the greatest differences in extratropical regions, especially the Southern Ocean in austral summer. Discrepancies among Langmuir schemes are large (15% in mixed layer depth standard deviation over the mean): largest under wave-driven turbulence with stabilizing buoyancy forcing, next largest under strongly wave-driven conditions with weak buoyancy forcing, and agreeing during strong convective forcing. Non-Langmuir schemes disagree with each other to a lesser extent, with a similar ordering. Langmuir discrepancies obscure a cross-scheme estimate of the Langmuir effect magnitude under realistic forcing, highlighting limited understanding and numerical deficiencies. Maps of the regions and seasons where the greatest discrepancies occur are provided to guide further studies and observations.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC). Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; PHY-1748958; 1258907; 1350795; ONRN00014-17-1-2393; OCE-1634578; 1558459; 1756115; ONRN00014-15-1-2308; N00014-17-1-2859; ONRN00014-17-1-2963; 1852977
OSTI ID:
1597346
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-19-24938
Journal Information:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Vol. 11, Issue 11; ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 49 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
ocean surface boundary layer
parameterization
Langmuir turbulence
turbulent mixing
JRA55‐do