Energy analysis of open regions of turbulent flows — mean eddy energetics of a numerical ocean circulation experiment

Abstract

The concepts involved in the interpretation of energy budgets in subregions of a turbulent flow are examined in order to determine the processes responsible for the production, transport, and dissipation of energy throughout a dynamically inhomogeneous circulation. An interpretation of the effects of Reynolds stress—mean flow interaction work for open regions is presented in terms of the change in the total mean kinetic energy. In an arbitrary volume of fluid the changes in kinetic energy of the mean flow and the mean kinetic energy of the eddy flow are not generally equal and opposite, so this process is not generally responsible for a conversion of energy between the two forms. These ideas are then applied to a regional kinetic energy analysis of the mesoscale resolution general ocean circulation numerical experiment of Robinson et al. (1977). The spatial structure of the various terms in the equation for the mean eddy kinetic energy is examined. The issues involved in selection of a set of analysis regions are discussed and explored via examination of budgets over different subregions of this flow. Thereby a relatively simple picture of the regional energetics emerges. Mean eddy kinetic energy is produced by conversion of kinetic energy of the mean flow in the net over the recirculation and near field of the northern boundary current system and roughly half of this energy is lost to each of mean eddy pressure work transport and diffusion work. Budgets over subregions of this net source region are much more complex. The interior eddy field is driven by pressure work influx, while the southwestern region has eddy buoyancy work conversion of mean potential energy as its energy source. At every depth level the eddy field draws its kinetic energy from the mean flow, when averaged over the horizontal extent of the basin or over the recirculation and near field.