scholarly journals Available Potential Energy and the General Circulation: Partitioning Wind, Buoyancy Forcing, and Diapycnal Mixing

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1510-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varvara E. Zemskova ◽  
Brian L. White ◽  
Alberto Scotti
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Surface Generation ◽  
Mixing Rate ◽  
Diapycnal Mixing ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Global Rate ◽  
Energy Cycle ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Surface Buoyancy

AbstractThe ocean energy cycle is calculated using a new available potential energy (APE) decomposition, which partitions adiabatic buoyancy fluxes from diapycnal mixing, applied to results from the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2), eddy-permitting ocean state estimate and observed surface buoyancy fluxes from the WHOI OAFlux project. Compared with the traditional Lorenz energy cycle, this framework provides a more accurate estimate of the background potential energy (PE) of the global oceans and the surface generation and interior fluxes of APE. Calculations of the global energy budget using 16 yr of ECCO2 output suggest that the adiabatic portion of the general circulation is maintained by a balance between the mean wind-driven upwelling that increases APE (+0.27 TW) and time-fluctuating processes, including mesoscale eddies, which release APE (−0.27 TW). The APE generated by surface buoyancy fluxes (0.46 TW) is comparable to the generation by the mean winds. The global rate of irreversible mixing (0.46 TW), which balances surface APE generation, is consistent with previous estimates of the diapycnal fluxes associated with maintaining deep stratification (see Munk and Wunsch) and a global diapycnal diffusivity of O(1 × 10−4) m2 s−1. However, the net contribution of diapycnal mixing to the total potential energy is negligible, which suggests that mixing, contrary to one current paradigm, does not place a global demand on kinetic energy dissipation. However, there are regions where mixing is significant, for example, between 3000 and 5000 m (in ECCO2), where mixing increases PE by 0.1 TW. The work provides a new framework for separating adiabatic–diabatic fluxes and for monitoring the global rate of diapycnal mixing rate using measurable surface properties such as SST and heat flux.

scholarly journals An Estimate of the Lorenz Energy Cycle for the World Ocean Based on the STORM/NCEP Simulation

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 2185-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Song von Storch ◽  
Carsten Eden ◽  
Irina Fast ◽  
Helmuth Haak ◽  
Daniel Hernández-Deckers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Eddy Kinetic Energy ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Energy Cycle ◽  
Lorenz Energy Cycle ◽  
Surface Buoyancy ◽  
Mean Kinetic Energy

Abstract This paper presents an estimate of the oceanic Lorenz energy cycle derived from a simulation forced by 6-hourly fluxes obtained from NCEP–NCAR reanalysis-1. The total rate of energy generation amounts to 6.6 TW, of which 1.9 TW is generated by the time-mean winds and 2.2 TW by the time-varying winds. The dissipation of kinetic energy amounts to 4.4 TW, of which 3 TW originate from the dissipation of eddy kinetic energy. The energy exchange between reservoirs is dominated by the baroclinic pathway and the pathway that distributes the energy generated by the time-mean winds. The former converts 0.7 to 0.8 TW mean available potential energy to eddy available potential energy and finally to eddy kinetic energy, whereas the latter converts 0.5 TW mean kinetic energy to mean available potential energy. This energy cycle differs from the atmospheric one in two aspects. First, the generation of the mean kinetic and mean available potential energy is each, to a first approximation, balanced by the dissipation. The interaction of the oceanic general circulation with mesoscale eddies is hence less crucial than the corresponding interaction in the atmosphere. Second, the baroclinic pathway in the ocean is facilitated not only by the surface buoyancy flux but also by the winds through a conversion of 0.5 TW mean kinetic energy to mean available potential energy. In the atmosphere, the respective conversion is almost absent and the baroclinic energy pathway is driven solely by the differential heating.

Diagnosing mixing in stratified turbulent flows with a locally defined available potential energy

2014 ◽  
Vol 740 ◽  
pp. 114-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Scotti ◽  
Brian White
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Boussinesq Approximation ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Energy Cycle ◽  
Lorenz Energy Cycle ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Special Circumstances

AbstractA local available potential energy (APE) density useful as suitable diagnostic tool in turbulent stratified flows is considered under the Boussinesq approximation. The local APE is positive, and in the limit of infinitesimal perturbation from an equilibrium state recovers the Lorenz energy cycle definition of APE. In a turbulent stratified flow, the APE can be Reynolds-decomposed into non-trivial mean and turbulent components, which are connected to the mean and turbulent kinetic energy by suitably defined fluxes. We show that the turbulent buoyancy flux $\overline{w'b'}$ and the rate of production of turbulent APE coincide only under very special circumstances. The framework is applied to derive some global bounds on the mixing efficiency of some representative flows.

Study of the Mechanisms of Vortex Variability in the Lofoten Basin Based on the Energy Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Travkin ◽  
◽  
T. V. Belonenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Barotropic Instability ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Kinetic Energy

Purpose. The Lofoten Basin is one of the most energetic zones of the World Ocean characterized by high activity of mesoscale eddies. The study is aimed at analyzing different components of general energy in the basin, namely the mean kinetic and vortex kinetic energy calculated using the integral of the volume of available potential and kinetic energy of the Lofoten Vortex, as well as variability of these characteristics. Methods and Results. GLORYS12V1 reanalysis data for the period 2010–2018 were used. The mean kinetic energy and the eddy kinetic one were analyzed; and as for the Lofoten Vortex, its volume available potential and kinetic energy were studied. The mesoscale activity of eddies in winter is higher than in summer. Evolution of the available potential energy and kinetic energy of the Lofoten Vortex up to the 1000 m horizon was studied. It is shown that the vortex available potential energy exceeds the kinetic one by an order of magnitude, and there is a positive trend with the coefficient 0,23⋅1015 J/year. It was found that in the Lofoten Basin, the intermediate layer from 600 to 900 m made the largest contribution to the potential energy, whereas the 0–400 m layer – to kinetic energy. The conversion rates of the mean kinetic energy into the vortex kinetic one and the mean available potential energy into the vortex available potential one (barotropic and baroclinic instability) were analyzed. It is shown that the first type of transformation dominates in summer, while the second one is characterized by its increase in winter. Conclusions. The vertical profile shows that the kinetic energy of eddies in winter is higher than in summer. The available potential energy of a vortex is by an order of magnitude greater than the kinetic energy. An increase in the available potential energy is confirmed by a significant positive trend and by a decrease in the vortex Burger number. The graphs of the barotropic instability conversion rate demonstrate the multidirectional flows in the vortex zone with the dipole structure observed in a winter period, and the tripole one – in summer. The barotropic instability highest intensity is observed in summer. The baroclinic instability is characterized by intensification of the regime in winter that is associated with weakening of stratification in this period owing to winter convection.

scholarly journals Energy of Midlatitude Transient Eddies in Idealized Simulations of Changed Climates

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 5797-5806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. O’Gorman ◽  
Tapio Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Eddy Kinetic Energy ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract As the climate changes, changes in static stability, meridional temperature gradients, and availability of moisture for latent heat release may exert competing effects on the energy of midlatitude transient eddies. This paper examines how the eddy kinetic energy in midlatitude baroclinic zones responds to changes in radiative forcing in simulations with an idealized moist general circulation model. In a series of simulations in which the optical thickness of the longwave absorber is varied over a wide range, the eddy kinetic energy has a maximum for a climate with mean temperature similar to that of present-day earth, with significantly smaller values both for warmer and for colder climates. In a series of simulations in which the meridional insolation gradient is varied, the eddy kinetic energy increases monotonically with insolation gradient. In both series of simulations, the eddy kinetic energy scales approximately linearly with the dry mean available potential energy averaged over the baroclinic zones. Changes in eddy kinetic energy can therefore be related to the changes in the atmospheric thermal structure that affect the mean available potential energy.

scholarly journals A Detailed Normal-Mode Energetics of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2718-2732 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. F. Marques ◽  
J. M. Castanheira
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Normal Mode ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Japan Meteorological Agency ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Zonal Wavenumber ◽  
New Formulation

Abstract An energetics formulation is here introduced that enables an explicit evaluation for the conversion rates between available potential energy and kinetic energy, the nonlinear interactions of both energy forms, and their generation and dissipation rates, in both the zonal wavenumber and vertical mode domains. The conversion rates between available potential energy and kinetic energy are further decomposed into the contributions by the rotational (Rossby) and divergent (gravity) components of the circulation field. The computed energy terms allow one to formulate a detailed energy cycle describing the flow of energy among the zonal mean and eddy components, and also among the barotropic and baroclinic components. This new energetics formulation is a development of the 3D normal-mode energetics scheme. The new formulation is applied on an assessment of the energetics of winter (December–February) circulation in the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40), the 25-yr Japan Meteorological Agency Reanalysis (JRA-25), and the NCEP–Department of Energy Reanalysis 2 (NCEP-R2) datasets.

Available Potential Energy and Irreversible Mixing in the Meridional Overturning Circulation

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 3130-3146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham O. Hughes ◽  
Andrew Mc C. Hogg ◽  
Ross W. Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
Stratified Turbulence ◽  
Overturning Circulation ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Buoyancy Forcing ◽  
Energy Transfers ◽  
Meridional Overturning ◽  
Surface Buoyancy

Abstract The overturning circulation of the global oceans is examined from an energetics viewpoint. A general framework for stratified turbulence is used for this purpose; first, it highlights the importance of available potential energy in facilitating the transfer of kinetic energy to the background potential energy (defined as the adiabatically rearranged state with no motion). Next, it is shown that it is the rate of transfer between different energy reservoirs that is important for the maintenance of the ocean overturning, rather than the total amount of potential or kinetic energy. A series of numerical experiments is used to assess which energy transfers are significant in the overturning circulation. In the steady state, the rate of irreversible diapycnal mixing is necessarily balanced by the production of available potential energy sourced from surface buoyancy fluxes. Thus, the external inputs of available potential energy from surface buoyancy forcing and of kinetic energy from other sources (such as surface winds and tides, and leading to turbulent mixing) are both necessary to maintain the overturning circulation.

scholarly journals Scaling Laws and Regime Transitions of Macroturbulence in Dry Atmospheres

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 2153-2173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapio Schneider ◽  
Christopher C. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Surface Potential ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Eddy Kinetic Energy ◽  
Eddy Flux ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Mean Fields ◽  
The Mean

Abstract In simulations of a wide range of circulations with an idealized general circulation model, clear scaling laws of dry atmospheric macroturbulence emerge that are consistent with nonlinear eddy–eddy interactions being weak. The simulations span several decades of eddy energies and include Earth-like circulations and circulations with multiple jets and belts of surface westerlies in each hemisphere. In the simulations, the eddy available potential energy and the barotropic and baroclinic eddy kinetic energy scale linearly with each other, with the ratio of the baroclinic eddy kinetic energy to the barotropic eddy kinetic energy and eddy available potential energy decreasing with increasing planetary radius and rotation rate. Mean values of the meridional eddy flux of surface potential temperature and of the vertically integrated convergence of the meridional eddy flux of zonal momentum generally scale with functions of the eddy energies and the energy-containing eddy length scale, with a few exceptions in simulations with statically near-neutral or neutral extratropical thermal stratifications. Eddy energies scale with the mean available potential energy and with a function of the supercriticality, a measure of the near-surface slope of isentropes. Strongly baroclinic circulations form an extended regime in which eddy energies scale linearly with the mean available potential energy. Mean values of the eddy flux of surface potential temperature and of the vertically integrated eddy momentum flux convergence scale similarly with the mean available potential energy and other mean fields. The scaling laws for the dependence of eddy fields on mean fields exhibit a regime transition between a regime in which the extratropical thermal stratification and tropopause height are controlled by radiation and convection and a regime in which baroclinic entropy fluxes modify the extratropical thermal stratification and tropopause height. At the regime transition, for example, the dependence of the eddy flux of surface potential temperature and the dependence of the vertically integrated eddy momentum flux convergence on mean fields changes—a result with implications for climate stability and for the general circulation of an atmosphere, including its tropical Hadley circulation.

Energetics of the Climate System

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Song von Storch
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Eddy Kinetic Energy ◽  
Energy Cycle ◽  
Lorenz Energy Cycle ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Realistic Data ◽  
Mean Kinetic Energy ◽  
Energy Pathways

The energetics considerations based on Lorenz’s available potential energy A focus on identification and quantification of processes capable of converting external energy sources into the kinetic energy of atmospheric and oceanic general circulations. Generally, these considerations consist of: (a) identifying the relevant energy compartments from which energy can be converted against friction to kinetic energy of motions of interests; (b) formulating for these energy compartments budget equations that describe all possible energy pathways; and (c) identifying the dominant energy pathways using realistic data. In order to obtain a more detailed description of energy pathways, a partitioning of motions, for example, into a “mean” and an “eddy” component, or into a diabatic and an adiabatic component, is used. Since the budget equations do not always suggest the relative importance of all possible pathways, often not even the directions, data that describe the atmospheric and the oceanic state in a sufficiently accurate manner are needed for evaluating the energy pathways. Apart from the complication due to different expressions of A, ranging from the original definition by Lorenz in 1955 to its approximations and to more generally defined forms, one has to balance the complexity of the respective budget equations that allows the evaluation of more possible energy pathways, with the quality of data available that allows sufficiently accurate estimates of energy pathways. With regard to the atmosphere, our knowledge, as inferred from the four-box Lorenz energy cycle, has consolidated in the last two decades, by, among other means, using data assimilation products obtained by combining observations with realistic atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The eddy kinetic energy, amounting to slightly less than 50% of the total kinetic energy, is supported against friction through a baroclinic pathway “fueled” by the latitudinally dependent diabatic heating. The mean kinetic energy is supported against friction by converting eddy kinetic energy via inverse cascades. For the ocean, our knowledge is still emerging. The description through the four-box Lorenz energy cycle is approximative and was only estimated from a simulation of a 0.1° oceanic general circulation models (OGCM) realistically forced at the sea surface, rather than from a data assimilation product. The estimates obtained so far suggest that the oceanic eddy kinetic energy, amounting almost 75% of the total oceanic kinetic energy, is supported against friction through a baroclinic pathway similar to that in the atmosphere. However, the oceanic baroclinic pathway is “fueled” to a considerable extent by converting mean kinetic energy supported by winds into mean available potential energy. Winds are also the direct source of the kinetic energy of the mean circulation, without involving noticeable inverse cascades from transients, at least not for the ocean as a whole. The energetics of oceanic general circulation can also be examined by separating diabatic from adiabatic processes. Such a consideration is thought to be more appropriate for understanding the energetics of the oceanic meridional overturning circulation (MOC), since this circulation is sensitive to density changes induced by diabatic mixing. Further work is needed to quantify the respective energy pathways using realistic data.

Regimes of Thermocline Scaling: The Interaction of Wind Stress and Surface Buoyancy

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 2009-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Cessi
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
Wind Stress Curl ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Ekman Flow ◽  
Diapycnal Diffusivity ◽  
Surface Buoyancy

Abstract The role of the relative geometry of mechanical forcing (wind stress) and buoyancy forcing (prescribed surface temperature) in the maintenance of the main thermocline is explored. In particular, the role of the wind stress curl in enhancing or suppressing the generation of baroclinic eddies is studied in simplified domains. The dependence of key quantities, such as the depth of the thermocline and the maximum heat transport, on the external parameters such as diapycnal mixing and dissipation rate is examined. Qualitatively different regimes are found depending on the relative phase of the wind stress and surface buoyancy distribution. The most efficient arrangement for eddy generation has Ekman pumping (suction) in conjunction with high (low) surface buoyancy. This corresponds to the situation found in the midlatitudes, where the surface Ekman flow carries heat toward the warmer region (i.e., upgradient of the surface temperature). In this case, strong eddy fluxes are generated in order to counteract the upgradient heat transport by the Ekman cell. The result is a thermocline whose depth is independent of the diapycnal diffusivity. However, the competition between these opposing heat fluxes leads to a weak net heat transport, proportional to the diffusivity responsible for the diabatic forcing. This arrangement of wind stress provides a large source of available potential energy on which eddies can grow, so the mechanical energy balance for the eddies is consistent with a substantial eddy heat flux. When the same surface temperature distribution is paired with the opposite wind stress curl, the mean flow produces a sink, rather than a source, of available potential energy and eddies are suppressed. With this arrangement, typical of low latitudes and the subpolar regions, the Ekman overturning cell carries heat downgradient of the surface temperature. Thus, the net heat transport is almost entirely due to the Ekman flow and is independent of the diapycnal diffusivity. At the same time the thermocline is a thin, diffusive boundary layer. Quantitative scalings for the thermocline depth and the poleward heat transport in these two limiting cases are contrasted and successfully compared with eddy-resolving computations.

scholarly journals Dynamical Potential Energy: A New Approach to Ocean Energetics

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Roquet
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Power Input ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Power Inputs ◽  
Ocean Energetics ◽  
Dynamical Potential

Abstract The concept of available potential energy is supposed to indicate which part of the potential energy is available to transform into kinetic energy. Yet it is impossible to obtain a unique definition of available potential energy for the real ocean because of nonlinearities of the equation of state, rendering its usefulness largely hypothetical. In this paper, the conservation of energy is first reformulated in terms of horizontal anomalies of density and pressure for a simplified ocean model using the Boussinesq and hydrostatic approximations. This framework introduces the concept of “dynamical potential energy,” defined as the horizontal anomaly of potential energy, to replace available potential energy. Modified conservation equations are derived that make it much simpler to identify oceanic power input by buoyancy and mechanical forces. Closed budgets of energy are presented for idealized circulations obtained with a general circulation model, comparing spatial patterns of power inputs generated by wind and thermal forcings. Finally, a generalization of the framework to compressible fluids is presented, opening the way to applications in atmosphere energetics.

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