An approach to parameterization of the oceanic turbulent boundary layer inthe western Pacific warm pool

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.