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Publication Abstracts

Canuto et al. 2019

Canuto, V.M., Y. Cheng, A.M. Howard, and M.S. Dubovikov, 2019: Three dimensional, space dependent mesoscale diffusivity: Derivation and implications. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 49, 1055-1074, doi:10.1175/JPO-D-18-0123.1.

Recently, we presented a parameterization of an arbitrary tracer 3D mesoscale flux that describes both diabatic and adiabatic regimes without using arbitrary tapering functions. However, we did not parameterize the mesoscale diffusivity, which is the subject of this work. A key difference between present and previous diffusivity parameterizations is that in the latter, the two main ingredients, mesoscales drift velocity and eddy kinetic energy were not parameterized but determined using present data which deprives the models of predictive power. Since winds, stratification etc., are predicted to change in the future, use of these parameterizations to study future climate scenarios becomes questionable. In this work, we parameterize drift velocity and eddy kinetic energy (vertical-horizontal components) which we first assess with data (WOCE, T/P and NATRE) and then use in a coarse resolution stand-alone ocean code under CORE-I forcing. We present results for the global ocean temperature and salinity, Atlantic overturning circulation, meridional heat transport and Drake Passage transport which we compare with several previous studies. The temperature drift is less than that of five of seven previous OGCMs and the salinity drift is among the smallest in those studies. The predicted winter ACC mixed layer depths (MLD) are in good agreement with the data. Predicting the correct MLD is important in climate studies since models that predict very deep mixed layers transfer more of the radiative perturbation to the deep ocean, reducing surface warming (and vice versa).

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ca00720k,
  author={Canuto, V. M. and Cheng, Y. and Howard, A. M. and Dubovikov, M. S.},
  title={Three dimensional, space dependent mesoscale diffusivity: Derivation and implications},
  year={2019},
  journal={Journal of Physical Oceanography},
  volume={49},
  pages={1055--1074},
  doi={10.1175/JPO-D-18-0123.1},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ca00720k
AU  - Canuto, V. M.
AU  - Cheng, Y.
AU  - Howard, A. M.
AU  - Dubovikov, M. S.
PY  - 2019
TI  - Three dimensional, space dependent mesoscale diffusivity: Derivation and implications
JA  - J. Phys. Oceanogr.
JO  - Journal of Physical Oceanography
VL  - 49
SP  - 1055
EP  - 1074
DO  - 10.1175/JPO-D-18-0123.1
ER  -

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