A new K-profile parameterization for the ocean surface boundary layer under realistic forcing conditions

Abstract

In this study, we present a new parameterization for the enhancement of vertical mixing brought by the inclusion of the Stokes drift for the turbulent mixing schemes in ocean circulation models. The new scheme (KPP-LT) uses the K-Profile Parameterization (Large et al., 1994) as a template, and attempts to include the effect of the penetration decay scale of the Stokes drift (δ) and the misalignment between the wind stress and Stokes drift (θww). The effect of the wind–wave angle of misalignment is guided by a set of idealized Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and the Langmuir Turbulence (LT) parameterization is developed based on LES of the ocean surface boundary layer at Ocean Weather Station Papa, for a period of 20 days under observed atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The KPP-LT model is implemented in the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) and compared to in situ oceanographic measurements, LES and other Second Moment Closure (SMC) schemes available in NCOM, namely the model of Kantha and Clayson (2004) and Harcourt (2013, 2015). Comparisons with temperature observations suggest better performance of the KPP-LT model over SMC models within the boundary layer, which are supported by comparisons of inertially averaged eddy viscosity profiles estimated from LES.