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Significance of Langmuir circulation in upper ocean mixing: Comparison of observations and simulations
Author(s) -
Kukulka T.,
Plueddemann A. J.,
Trowbridge J. H.,
Sullivan P. P.
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2009gl037620
Subject(s) - langmuir turbulence , mixing (physics) , turbulence , atmospheric sciences , momentum (technical analysis) , climatology , ocean dynamics , geology , mixed layer , environmental science , circulation (fluid dynamics) , meteorology , large eddy simulation , turbulence modeling , mechanics , ocean current , geophysics , physics , plasma , plasma oscillation , finance , quantum mechanics , economics
Representing upper ocean turbulence accurately in models remains a great challenge for improving weather and climate projections. Langmuir circulation (LC) is a turbulent process driven by wind and surface waves that plays a key role in transferring momentum, heat, and mass in the oceanic surface layer. We present a direct comparison between observations and large eddy simulations, based on the wave‐averaged Navier‐Stokes equation, of an LC growth event. The evolution of cross‐wind velocity variance and spatial scales, as well as mixed layer deepening are only consistent with simulations if LC effects are included in the model. Our results offer a validation of the large eddy simulation approach to understanding LC dynamics, and demonstrate the importance of LC in ocean surface layer mixing.