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Validation of KPP in a coastal area
Cécile Renaudie, Rémy Baraille, Yves Morel, Gwenaëlle Hello, Hervé Giordani
Météo France / SHOM
(Abstract received 03/31/2009 for session X)
ABSTRACT
In this study, the authors evaluate the performances of the K-profile parameterization (KPP) in a coastal area. Oceanic observations collected in the Iroise sea in may 2007 are first presented and analyzed. The part of the signal due to advection is filtered out using correlation with salinity variability. The remaining signal is associated with boundary layer and interior mixing and is hypothesized to be mainly one-dimensional. Surface fluxes are then constructed using different atmospheric numerical models and parameterizations and are compared to observations from a buoy nearby. The net radiative fluxes are calibrated using the heat content evolution of the water column. Different tests and sensitivity studies are then performed with KPP in the hybrid ocean model HYCOM, which reveal first that surface and bottom boundary layer and shear instability mixing processes all play an important role in the observed evolution of the temperature profile; and then that the nonlocal term in KPP (here potentially activated during the nocturnal cooling) has to be switched off for a better agreement. It is concluded that the KPP is able to accurately represent the effect of mixing in coastal areas.
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2009 LOM Workshop, Miami, Florida Jume 1 - 3, 2009