Testing Turbulence Closure Models against Oceanic Turbulence Measurements

The specific objectives of this project are to obtain a critical evaluation of turbulence closure models that are commonly used in the coastal ocean, and to identify ways to improve these models. Of particular interest are the MY-2.5 model (Mellor and Yamada, 1974, 1982) and the k-e model (e.g., Rodi, 1987), which involve coupled equations describing turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent scale. Also of interest is the KPP model (Large et al. 1994), which determines the eddy viscosity and diffusivity in terms of boundary layer thickness and boundary fluxes of momentum and buoyancy. In the present applications, work to date has clarified the turbulence energetics (see below), so that the primary focus is on processes controlling turbulence scale, which is by far the most uncertain component of turbulence closure models.