Validation and intercomparison of two vertical-mixing schemes in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

In this study, two types of vertical turbulence closure models are tested in the Mediter- ranean Sea in a one-dimensional configuration. The numerical experiments are per- formed at different locations in the Mediterranean for which the year 2004 is simulated. The model results are then compared and validated with in-situ temperature obser- vations. For the model simulations, initial profiles of temperature and salinity come from the ARGO (Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) profiles. The surface forcing (momentum, heat) is calculated from bulk formulae using 6-hourly atmospheric data from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF). The vertical mixing schemes tested in this study are a second-order statistical model (k-ε) 0 and the non-local K-profile parameterization (KPP). Both schemes yield similar results in terms of reproducing the water column dynamics. A major source of discrepancy be- tween model and observations comes from the uncertainties in the atmospheric forcing parameterization. At this point, net shortwave radiation data from NCEP atmospheric reanalysis has been used obtaining a more realistic Sea Surface Temperature (SST) compared with satellite observations for the summer months.