Premium
Wave‐induced mixing in the upper ocean: Distribution and application to a global ocean circulation model
Author(s) -
Qiao Fangli,
Yuan Yeli,
Yang Yongzeng,
Zheng Quanan,
Xia Changshui,
Ma Jian
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl019824
Subject(s) - mixing (physics) , climatology , geology , ocean current , transect , circulation (fluid dynamics) , atmospheric sciences , oceanography , boreal , physics , mechanics , paleontology , quantum mechanics
From the Reynolds stress expression, the wave‐induced vertical viscosity (or diffusivity) Bv is defined, which can be used as a parameter to estimate the strength of wave‐induced mixing. In addition, a parameter D 5 is introduced to represent a wave‐induced mixing penetration depth. The global distribution of Bv averaged over the upper 20 m is calculated and its latitudinal transects in boreal summer and winter is discussed. The results show that in summer the wave‐induced mixing is strong in the southern oceans south of 30°S, and in winter it is strong in the north Pacific and the north Atlantic north of 30°N, as well as in the southern oceans south of 40°S. Adding Bv to the vertical diffusivity in a global ocean circulation model yields a temperature structure in the upper 100 m that is closer to the observed climatology than a model without the wave‐induced mixing.