A. Soloviev et al., An approach to parameterization of the oceanic turbulent boundary layer inthe western Pacific warm pool, J GEO RES-O, 106(C3), 2001, pp. 4421-4435
Vertical profiles of zonal velocity and the dissipation rate epsilon of the
turbulent kinetic energy obtained during the Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosph
ere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) are analyzed in th
e context of planetary boundary layer relationships previously derived from
atmospheric measurements. The presence of a barrier layer and the striking
effect of increased dimensionless shear and epsilon at the bottom of the s
urface mixed layer of the ocean, features often observed in the western Pac
ific warm pool area, are consistent with the boundary layer laws. The gradi
ent Richardson number Ri is found to be a convenient parameter for scaling
the nonstationary and horizontally heterogeneous mixed layer in the warm po
ol area. The approach to parameterization of the turbulent eddy coefficient
within the mixed layer as a function of Ri is tested as part of a one-dime
nsional model. A comparison between the observed and modeled upper ocean te
mperatures for two COARE examples shows a reasonable agreement over a wide
range of wind speed conditions.