On the Diffusion Parameterization of Mesoscale Eddy Effects from a Numerical Ocean Experiment

Abstract

Abstract A method for evaluating the utility of a given parameterization field in a spatially inhomogeneous circulation is described. This method is used to examine the mean field diffusion parameterization of the heat, momentum and vorticity time deviation eddy terms from a mesoscale resolution numerical ocean circulation experiment. The diffusion model does not satisfactorily describe the eddy terms for any field throughout any of the different regions of the model flow.