Modeling wave-enhanced turbulence in the ocean surface layer

Abstract

Recent measurements show a sublayer, within meters of the surface, in which turbulence is enhanced by the action of surface waves. In this layer, dissipation appears to decay with inverse depth raised to a power estimated between 3 and 4.6. The present study shows that a conventional model, employing a "level 2 1/2 ' turbulence closure scheme, predicts near-surface dissipation decaying as inverse depth to the power 3.4. The model shows agreement in detail with measured profiles of dissipation. -from Authors