Sensitivity of the ocean circulation model to the k–omega vertical turbulence parametrization

Abstract

Ocean general circulation model (OGCM) of the INM RAS with embedded k turbulent model is developed. The solution of the k model equations depends on the frequencies of buoyancy and velocity shift which are generated by the OGCM. The coefficients of vertical turbulence in OGCM depend on k and omega. The numerical algorithms of both models are based on the splitting method for physical processes. The model equations are split into two stages, describing the three-dimensional transport-diffusion of the kinetic energy of turbulence and frequency and their local generation-dissipation. The system of ordinary differential equations arising at the second stage is solved analytically, which ensures the efficiency of the algorithm. Analytical solution also written for the vertical turbulence coefficient equation. The model is used to study the sensitivity of the model circulation of the North AtlanticArctic Ocean to variations in the parameters of vertical turbulence. Experiments show that varying the coefficients of the analytical model solution can improve the adequacy of the simulation.