Dataset Information

Horizontal eddy energy flux in the world oceans diagnosed from altimetry data.

ABSTRACT: During the propagation of coherent mesoscale eddies, they directly or indirectly induce many effects and interactions at different scales, implying eddies are actually serving as a kind of energy carrier or energy source for these eddy-related dynamic processes. To quantify this dynamically significant energy flow, the multi-year averaged horizontal eddy energy fluxes (EEFs) were estimated by using satellite altimetry data and a two-layer model based on hydrographic climatology. There is a strong net westward transport of eddy energy estimated at the mean value of ~13.3 GW north of 5°N and ~14.6 GW at the band 5°S ~ 44°S in the Southern Hemisphere. However, poleward of 44°S east-propagating eddies carry their energy eastward with an averaged net flux of ~3.2 GW. If confirmed, it would signify that geostrophic eddies not only contain the most of oceanic kinetic energy (KE), but also carry and spread a significant amount of energy with them.

SUBMITTER: Xu C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4060511 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Horizontal eddy energy flux in the world oceans diagnosed from altimetry data.

Xu Chi C Shang Xiao-Dong XD Huang Rui Xin RX

Scientific reports 20140617

During the propagation of coherent mesoscale eddies, they directly or indirectly induce many effects and interactions at different scales, implying eddies are actually serving as a kind of energy carrier or energy source for these eddy-related dynamic processes. To quantify this dynamically significant energy flow, the multi-year averaged horizontal eddy energy fluxes (EEFs) were estimated by using satellite altimetry data and a two-layer model based on hydrographic climatology. There is a stron ...[more]

PMID: 24937401

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Project description:Abstract We demonstrate that an extended eddy?diffusivity mass?flux (EDMF) scheme can be used as a unified parameterization of subgrid?scale turbulence and convection across a range of dynamical regimes, from dry convective boundary layers, through shallow convection, to deep convection. Central to achieving this unified representation of subgrid?scale motions are entrainment and detrainment closures. We model entrainment and detrainment rates as a combination of turbulent and dynamical processes. Turbulent entrainment/detrainment is represented as downgradient diffusion between plumes and their environment. Dynamical entrainment/detrainment is proportional to a ratio of a relative buoyancy of a plume and a vertical velocity scale, that is modulated by heuristic nondimensional functions which represent their relative magnitudes and the enhanced detrainment due to evaporation from clouds in drier environment. We first evaluate the closures off?line against entrainment and detrainment rates diagnosed from large eddy simulations (LESs) in which tracers are used to identify plumes, their turbulent environment, and mass and tracer exchanges between them. The LES are of canonical test cases of a dry convective boundary layer, shallow convection, and deep convection, thus spanning a broad rangeof regimes. We then compare the LES with the full EDMF scheme, including the new closures, in a single?column model (SCM). The results show good agreement between the SCM and LES in quantities that are key for climate models, including thermodynamic profiles, cloud liquid water profiles, and profiles of higher moments of turbulent statistics. The SCM also captures well the diurnal cycle of convection and the onset of precipitation. Key Points An extended eddy?diffusivity mass?flux (EDMF) scheme successfully captures diverse regimes of convective motions Unified closures are presented for entrainment and detrainment across the different convective regimes With the unified closures, the EDMF scheme can simulate dry convection, shallow cumulus, and deep cumulus

Dataset Information

Horizontal eddy energy flux in the world oceans diagnosed from altimetry data.

Publications

Horizontal eddy energy flux in the world oceans diagnosed from altimetry data.

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