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Upper ocean - topographic coupling in an ocean model with high vertical resolution
Harley E. Hurlburt, Patrick J. Hogan, E. Joseph Metzger, Charles E. Tilburg, and Jay F. Shriver
Naval Research Laboratory
(Abstract received 07/20/2007 for session X)
ABSTRACT
The applicability of a two-layer theory for abyssal current steering of upper ocean current pathways is investigated using HYCOM simulations with high vertical resolution (15-32 layers). The theory requires near geostropic balance, predominant low vertical mode structure, and that the topography not intrude significantly into the stratified ocean. The abyssal currents are typically driven by vertical mixing or by baroclinic instability (usually a mixed barotropic - baroclinic instability), the latter resulting in upper ocean - topographic coupling via flow instabilities. Examples for the Kuroshio, Japan/East Sea and the Australia - New Zealand region will be presented, including comparisons of HYCOM simulations with low vertical resolution simulations by NLOM (4-6 layers). One relevant difference is that NLOM uses vertically-compressed but otherwise realistic topography confined to the lowest layer, while HYCOM allows the topography to extend through any number of layers.
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2007 LOM Workshop, Bergen, Norway, August 20-22, 2007