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Topographic stress parameterization in a quasi-geostrophic barotropic model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 1997

WILLIAM J. MERRYFIELD
Affiliation:
Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000, Sidney, BC V8L 4B2, Canada
GREG HOLLOWAY
Affiliation:
Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000, Sidney, BC V8L 4B2, Canada

Abstract

The physical basis for parameterizing topographic stress due to unresolved eddies is examined in a quasi-geostrophic barotropic model. Topographic stress parameterization is shown to represent two effects of eddies: attraction of the flow to a statistical equilibrium featuring topographically correlated mean currents, and dissipation of potential enstrophy. Performance is evaluated by comparing parameterized low-resolution models with explicit high-resolution models.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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