Open AccessSurface turbulence in natural waters: A comparison of large eddy simulations with microstructure observations
Author(s) -
Sander Johannes,
Simon André,
Jonas Tobias,
Wüest Alfred
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1999jc900266
Subject(s) - turbulence , dissipation , turbulence kinetic energy , microscale chemistry , mechanics , large eddy simulation , advection , energy cascade , eddy diffusion , k epsilon turbulence model , boundary layer , k omega turbulence model , kinetic energy , physics , turbulence modeling , surface layer , thermodynamics , materials science , classical mechanics , layer (electronics) , mathematics education , mathematics , composite material
Turbulent properties of the surface layer of stratified lakes have been quantified from temperature microstructure measurements made during convective conditions. Large eddy simulations have been performed using corresponding surface boundary conditions. We compare rates of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation of temperature variance obtained from observations with those obtained from large eddy simulations. While profiles of the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy can be reproduced very well by the model, the rate of dissipation of temperature variance exhibits smaller values in the calculations. Other statistical characteristics of turbulence agree for both properties. We show that part of the discrepancy derives from large‐scale lateral advection, which is not represented by the model, while turbulence on the microscale is reproduced well.