The dynamical role of mesoscale eddies in the ocean general
circulation is investigated using eddy-resolving quasigeostrophic
(QG) and primitive equation (FE) models which are parametrically
identical. The results of both QG and FE numerical
experiments in mid-latitude, rectangular ocean basins are
systematically intercompared and extensively analyzed in terms
of basic quantities: energetics, relative and potential vorticity, and eddy momentum and heat transports.
Although overall the analyses show that the results are
fairly similar between the two models, a closer examination
reveals some significant differences. Most of these differences
are due to the presence of Kelvin waves along the lateral boundaries
of the PE model. These waves are the main source for
mean and eddy divergent kinetic energy. Further model parameter
studies are needed to determine whether the presence of these
Kelvin waves is due to numerics, physics, or a combination of
the two, and if the two-day sampling rate commonly used for
obtaining eddy statistics significantly aliases these high
frequency waves. / Graduation date: 1984
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/29237 |
| Date | 30 April 1984 |
| Creators | Batteen, Mary L. |
| Contributors | Holland, William R., Han, Young-June |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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