Comparison of gravity current mixing parameterizations and calibration using a high-resolution 3D nonhydrostatic spectral element model

Abstract

In light of the pressing need for development and testing of reliable parameterizations of gravity current entrainment in ocean general circulation models, two existing entrainment parameterization schemes, K-profile parameterization (KPP) and one based on Turner’s work (TP), are compared using idealized experiments of dense water flow over a constant-slope wedge using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). It is found that the gravity current entrainment resulting from KPP and TP differ significantly from one another. Parameters of KPP and TP are then calibrated using results from the high-order nonhydrostatic spectral element model Nek5000. It is shown that a very good agreement can be reached between the HYCOM simulations with KPP and TP, even though these schemes are quite different from each other.