scholarly journals Gulf Stream Dynamics along the Southeastern U.S. Seaboard

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 690-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Gula ◽  
M. Jeroen Molemaker ◽  
James C. McWilliams
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Ocean Modeling ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Regional Ocean Modeling System ◽  
Meridional Transport ◽  
Local Pressure ◽  
Straits Of Florida ◽  
Eddy Fluxes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Current

AbstractThe Gulf Stream strongly interacts with the topography along the southeastern U.S. seaboard, between the Straits of Florida and Cape Hatteras. The dynamics of the Gulf Stream in this region is investigated with a set of realistic, very high-resolution simulations using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The mean path is strongly influenced by the topography and in particular the Charleston Bump. There are significant local pressure anomalies and topographic form stresses exerted by the bump that retard the mean flow and steer the mean current pathway seaward. The topography provides, through bottom pressure torque, the positive input of barotropic vorticity necessary to balance the meridional transport of fluid and close the gyre-scale vorticity balance. The effect of the topography on the development of meanders and eddies is studied by computing energy budgets of the eddies and the mean flow. The baroclinic instability is stabilized by the slope everywhere except past the bump. The flow is barotropically unstable, and kinetic energy is converted from the mean flow to the eddies following the Straits of Florida and at the bump with regions of eddy-to-mean conversion in between. There is eddy growth by Reynolds stress and downstream development of the eddies. Interaction of the flow with the topography acts as an external forcing process to localize these oceanic storm tracks. Associated time-averaged eddy fluxes are essential to maintain and reshape the mean current. The pattern of eddy fluxes is interpreted in terms of eddy life cycle, eddy fluxes being directed downgradient in eddy growth regions and upgradient in eddy decay regions.

scholarly journals The interaction of free Rossby waves with semi-transparent equatorial waveguide – wave-mean flow interaction

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Reznik ◽  
V. Zeitlin
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Waves ◽  
Landau Equation ◽  
Spatial Modulation ◽  
Equilibrium Solutions ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Ginzburg Landau ◽  
Baroclinic Waves ◽  
Ginzburg Landau Equation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Current

Abstract. Nonlinear interactions of the barotropic Rossby waves propagating across the equator with trapped baroclinic Rossby or Yanai modes and mean zonal flow are studied within the two-layer model of the atmosphere, or the ocean. It is shown that the equatorial waveguide with a mean current acts as a resonator and responds to barotropic waves with certain wavenumbers by making the trapped baroclinic modes grow. At the same time the equatorial waveguide produces the barotropic response which, via nonlinear interaction with the mean equatorial current and with the trapped waves, leads to the saturation of the growing modes. The excited baroclinic waves can reach significant amplitudes depending on the magnitude of the mean current. In the absence of spatial modulation the nonlinear saturation of thus excited waves is described by forced Landau-type equation with one or two attracting equilibrium solutions. In the latter case the spatial modulation of the baroclinic waves is expected to lead to the formation of characteristic domain-wall defects. The evolution of the envelopes of the trapped Rossby waves is governed by driven Ginzburg-Landau equation, while the envelopes of the Yanai waves obey the "first-order" forced Ginzburg-Landau equation. The envelopes of short baroclinic Rossby waves obey the damped-driven nonlinear Schrodinger equation well studied in the literature.

scholarly journals Influence of Bottom Topography on Integral Constraints in Zonal Flows with Parameterized Potential Vorticity Fluxes

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. O. Ivchenko ◽  
B. Sinha ◽  
V. B. Zalesny ◽  
R. Marsh ◽  
A. T. Blaker
Keyword(s):  
Potential Vorticity ◽  
Bottom Topography ◽  
Momentum Conservation ◽  
Integral Constraint ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Flat Bottom ◽  
Zonal Flows ◽  
Eddy Fluxes ◽  
The Mean

Abstract An integral constraint for eddy fluxes of potential vorticity (PV), corresponding to global momentum conservation, is applied to two-layer zonal quasigeostrophic channel flow. This constraint must be satisfied for any type of parameterization of eddy PV fluxes. Bottom topography strongly influences the integral constraint compared to a flat bottom channel. An analytical solution for the mean flow solution has been found by using asymptotic expansion in a small parameter, which is the ratio of the Rossby radius to the meridional extent of the channel. Applying the integral constraint to this solution, one can find restrictions for eddy PV transfer coefficients that relate the eddy fluxes of PV to the mean flow. These restrictions strongly deviate from restrictions for the channel with flat bottom topography.

Modeling the Pathways and Mean Dynamics of River Plume Dispersal in the New York Bight

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1167-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weifeng G. Zhang ◽  
John L. Wilkin ◽  
Robert J. Chant
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Hudson River ◽  
Ocean Modeling ◽  
Ocean Dynamics ◽  
Surface Currents ◽  
Regional Ocean Modeling System ◽  
New York Bight ◽  
York Bight ◽  
The Mean

Abstract This study investigates the dispersal of the Hudson River outflow across the New York Bight and the adjacent inner- through midshelf region. Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulations were used to examine the mean momentum dynamics; the freshwater dispersal pathways relevant to local biogeochemical processes; and the contribution from wind, remotely forced along-shelf current, tides, and the topographic control of the Hudson River shelf valley. The modeled surface currents showed many similarities to the surface currents measured by high-frequency radar [the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR)]. Analysis shows that geostrophic balance and Ekman transport dominate the mean surface momentum balance, with most of the geostrophic flow resulting from the large-scale shelf circulation and the rest being locally generated. Subsurface circulation is driven principally by the remotely forced along-shelf current, with the exception of a riverward water intrusion in the Hudson River shelf valley. The following three pathways by which freshwater is dispersed across the shelf were identified: (i) along the New Jersey coast, (ii) along the Long Island coast, and (iii) by a midshelf offshore pathway. Time series of the depth-integrated freshwater transport show strong seasonality in dispersal patterns: the New Jersey pathway dominates the winter–spring seasons when winds are downwelling favorable, while the midshelf pathway dominates summer months when winds are upwelling favorable. A series of reduced physics simulations identifies that wind is the major force for the spreading of freshwater to the mid- and outer shelf, that remotely forced along-shelf currents significantly influence the ultimate fate of the freshwater, and that the Hudson River shelf valley has a modest dynamic effect on the freshwater spreading.

Eddy fluxes and topography in stratified quasi-geostrophic models

1999 ◽  
Vol 380 ◽  
pp. 59-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM J. MERRYFIELD ◽  
GREG HOLLOWAY
Keyword(s):  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Stream Function ◽  
Potential Vorticity ◽  
Lower Layer ◽  
Stratified Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Random Forcing ◽  
Flow Over Topography ◽  
Eddy Fluxes ◽  
The Mean

Turbulent stratified flow over topography is studied using layered quasi-geostrophic models. Mean flows develop under random forcing, with lower-layer mean stream-function positively correlated with topography. When friction is sufficiently small, upper-layer mean flow is weaker than, but otherwise resembles, lower-layer mean flow. When lower-layer friction is larger, upper-layer mean flow reverses and can exceed lower-layer mean flow in strength. The mean interface between layers is domed over topographic elevations. Eddy fluxes of potential vorticity and layer thickness act in the sense of driving the flow toward higher entropy. Such behaviour contradicts usual eddy parameterizations, to which modifications are suggested.

The mean flow and variability of the Gulf stream-slopewater system from MICOM

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelique C. Haza ◽  
Arthur J. Mariano ◽  
Toshio M. Chin ◽  
Donald B. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
The Mean

Estimating Bolus Velocities from Data—How Large Must They Be?

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. Killworth
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
Density Level ◽  
Eddy Flux ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Flux Divergence ◽  
The North ◽  
Resolution Model ◽  
Eddy Fluxes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract This paper examines the representation of eddy fluxes by bolus velocities. In particular, it asks the following: 1) Can an arbitrary eddy flux divergence of density be represented accurately by a nondivergent bolus flux that satisfies the condition of no normal flow at boundaries? 2) If not, how close can such a representation come? 3) If such a representation can exist in some circumstances, what is the size of the smallest bolus velocity that fits the data? The author finds, in agreement with earlier authors, that the answer to the first question is no, although under certain conditions, which include a modification to the eddy flux divergence, a bolus representation becomes possible. One such condition is when the eddy flux divergence is required to balance the time-mean flux divergence. The smallest bolus flow is easily found by solving a thickness-weighted Poisson equation on each density level. This problem is solved for the North Pacific using time-mean data from an eddy-permitting model. The minimum bolus flow is found to be very small at depth but larger than is usually assumed near the surface. The magnitude of this minimum flow is of order one-tenth of the mean flow. Similar but larger results are found for a coarse-resolution model.

scholarly journals Effect of Planetary Rotation on Oceanic Surface Boundary Layer Turbulence

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 2057-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinliang Liu ◽  
Jun-Hong Liang ◽  
James C. McWilliams ◽  
Peter P. Sullivan ◽  
Yalin Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Direction ◽  
Stable Stratification ◽  
Upper Ocean ◽  
Entrainment Rate ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Langmuir Turbulence ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Current

AbstractA large-eddy simulation (LES) model is configured to investigate the effect of the horizontal (northward) component of Earth’s rotation on upper-ocean turbulence. The focus is on the variability of the effect with latitude/hemisphere in the presence of surface gravity waves and when capped by a stable stratification beneath the surface layer. When is included, the mean flow, turbulence, and vertical mixing depend on the wind direction. The value and effect of are the largest in the tropics and decrease with increasing latitudes. The variability in turbulent flows to wind direction is different at different latitudes and in opposite hemispheres. When limited by stable stratification, the variability in turbulence intensity to wind direction reduces, but the entrainment rate changes with wind direction. In wave-driven Langmuir turbulence, the variability in mean current to wind direction is reduced, but the variability of turbulence to wind direction is evident. When there is wind-following swell, the variability in the mean current to wind direction is further reduced. When there is strong wind-opposing swell so that the total wave forcing is opposite to the wind, the variability in the mean current to wind direction is reduced, but the variability of turbulence to wind direction is enhanced, compared to in Ekman turbulence. The profiles of eddy viscosity, including its shape and its value, show a strong wind direction dependence for both stratified wind-driven and wave-driven Langmuir turbulence. Our study demonstrates that wind direction is an important parameter to upper-ocean mixing, though it is overlooked in existing ocean models.

Seasonality of Submesoscale processes in the Bay of Bengal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanman Li ◽  
Xuhua Cheng
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Bay Of Bengal ◽  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Strain Field ◽  
Mesoscale Eddies ◽  
Ocean Modeling ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Regional Ocean Modeling System ◽  
Submesoscale Processes

<p>Mesoscale eddies that known as a dominant reservoir of kinetic energy has been studied extensively for its dynamics and variation.In order to maintain energy budget equilibrium,the energy stored in mesoscale eddies is dissipated by small scale processes around centimeters.Submesoscale processes that lie between mesoscale and microscale motions effectively extract energy from mesoscale motions and transfer to smaller scales.The Bay of Bengal(the BOB) receives large fresh water from precipitation and river runoff resulting in strong salinity fronts that conducive to the generation of submesoscale processes.Using the Regional Ocean Modeling System(ROMS) data with two horizontal resolutions:a high-resolution(~1.6km) that is partially resolve submesoscale,and a low-resolution(~7km) that not resolves submesoscale,we focus on the seasonality of submesoscale processes in the Bay of Bengal.To ensure that only the submesoscale motions is considered,we choose 40km as the length to separate submesoscale from the flow field.Results show that submesocale processes is ubiquitous in the BOB,mainly trapped in the mixed layer.As resolution increasing,submesoscale motions become much stronger.Seasonality of submesoscale in the BOB is apparent and is different from the Gulf stream region  which is strongest in winter and weakest in summer.Submesoscale features in this region mostly present in fall,which the most important mechanisms is frontogenesis due to strong horizontal buoyancy flux associated with large strain.Submesoscale motions is also vigorous in winter.The proposed mechanism is that the depth of mixed layer is deep enough which contributes to the occurrence of mixed layer instability.During the whole year,mesoscale strain field is weakest in summer,which makes submesoscale weakest.</p>

scholarly journals Energetics of Eddy–Mean Flow Interactions in the Gulf Stream Region

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1103-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dujuan Kang ◽  
Enrique N. Curchitser
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Flow Energy ◽  
Flow Interaction ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Eddy Field ◽  
Coast Region

AbstractA detailed energetics analysis of the Gulf Stream (GS) and associated eddies is performed using a high-resolution multidecadal regional ocean model simulation. The energy equations for the time-mean and time-varying flows are derived as a theoretical framework for the analysis. The eddy–mean flow energy components and their conversions show complex spatial distributions. In the along-coast region, the cross-stream and cross-bump variations are seen in the eddy–mean flow energy conversions, whereas in the off-coast region, a mixed positive–negative conversion pattern is observed. The local variations of the eddy–mean flow interaction are influenced by the varying bottom topography. When considering the domain-averaged energetics, the eddy–mean flow interaction shows significant along-stream variability. Upstream of Cape Hatteras, the energy is mainly transferred from the mean flow to the eddy field through barotropic and baroclinic instabilities. Upon separating from the coast, the GS becomes highly unstable and both energy conversions intensify. When the GS flows into the off-coast region, an inverse conversion from the eddy field to the mean flow dominates the power transfer. For the entire GS region, the mean current is intrinsically unstable and transfers 28.26 GW of kinetic energy and 26.80 GW of available potential energy to the eddy field. The mesoscale eddy kinetic energy is generated by mixed barotropic and baroclinic instabilities, contributing 28.26 and 9.15 GW, respectively. Beyond directly supplying the barotropic pathway, mean kinetic energy also provides 11.55 GW of power to mean available potential energy and subsequently facilitates the baroclinic instability pathway.

scholarly journals A study of intermediate water circulation in the Strait of Georgia using tracer-based, Eulerian, and Lagrangian methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Stevens ◽  
R. Pawlowicz ◽  
S. E. Allen
Keyword(s):  
3D Model ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Diffusive Transport ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Strait Of Georgia ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Current ◽  
Intermediate Circulation ◽  
Inflowing Water

AbstractThe intermediate circulation of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada, plays a key role in dispersing contaminants throughout the Salish Sea, yet little is known about its dynamics. Here, we use hydrographic observations and hindcast fields from a regional 3D model to approach the intermediate circulation from three perspectives. Firstly, we derive and model a “seasonality” tracer from temperature observations to age the water, estimate mixing, and infer circulation. Secondly, we analyze modeled velocity fields to create mean current maps and examine the advective and diffusive components of the mean flow field. Lastly, we calculate Lagrangian trajectories to derive Transit Time Distributions and Lagrangian statistics. In combination, these analyses provide an overview of the mean intermediate circulation that can be summarized as follows: subducting water in Haro Strait ventilates the intermediate water primarily via an up-strait boundary current that flows along the eastern shores of the southernmost basin in 1–2 months. This inflowing water is either incorporated into the interior of the basin, recirculated southwards, or transported into the northernmost basin, mixing steadily with adjacent water masses during its transit. A second, shallower ventilating jet emanates southwards from Discovery Passage, locally modifying the Haro Strait inflow signal. Outside of these well-defined advective features, diffusive transport dominates in the majority of the region. The intermediate renewal signal fully ventilates the region in 100–140 days, which serves as a benchmark for contaminant dispersal timescale estimates.

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