Numerical Simulation of the Response of the Ocean Surface Layer to Precipitation
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BibTeX
@MISC{Bao_numericalsimulation,
author = {Shaowu Bao and Sethu Raman and Lian Xie},
title = {Numerical Simulation of the Response of the Ocean Surface Layer to Precipitation},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Abstract—Numerical experiments were conducted to investigate the ocean’s response to the precipitation. A squall line observed in TOGA COARE was simulated. The simulation reproduced some of the observed ocean responses to the precipitation, such as the formation of a fresh water layer, surface cooling and the variation of upper layer turbulent mixing. The precipitation-induced fresh layer can cause the vertical turbulent diffusivities to decrease from the surface to a depth of about 11–13 meters within a few hours. After the rainfall, the turbulence increases near the surface of the ocean due to the combined effect of increased shear and wind forcing, but decreases with depth due to the development of a stable layer. The main reason for the turbulence variation is the decrease in the vertical turbulence flux below the surface fresh layer because of increased static stability. Sensitivity experiments reveal that the sea-surface temperature increases faster after rainfall due to the formation of a shallow fresh water layer near the surface. Key words: Air-sea interaction, coupled model, ocean mixed layer. 1.
Keyphrases
ocean surface layer numerical simulation turbulence variation vertical turbulent diffusivities air-sea interaction fresh water layer abstract numerical experiment toga coare turbulence increase surface fresh layer precipitation-induced fresh layer sea-surface temperature increase ocean mixed layer squall line surface cooling wind forcing observed ocean response ocean response combined effect main reason upper layer turbulent mixing key word vertical turbulence flux stable layer shallow fresh water layer increased static stability
