A note on: "A Gaussian-product stochastic Gent–McWilliams parameterization". (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jansen, Malte F.
• Is Part Of: Ocean modelling. Volume 110(2017:Feb.)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Eddy parameterization -- Meso-scale -- Stochastic -- Mixing length; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie -- Périodiques; Oceanography; Periodicals; 551.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2016.12.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5003

Abstract

Highlights: Note builds on a recent article by Grooms (2016). Modified stochastic parameterization for eddy fluxes is proposed. Parameterization is derived using mixing-length arguments. Parameterization is frame-invariant. Abstract: This note builds on a recent article by Grooms (2016), which introduces a new stochastic parameterization for eddy buoyancy fluxes. The closure proposed by Grooms accounts for the fact that eddy fluxes arise as the product of two approximately Gaussian variables, which in turn leads to a distinctly non-Gaussian distribution. The directionality of the stochastic eddy fluxes, however, remains somewhat ad-hoc and depends on the reference frame of the chosen coordinate system. This note presents a modification of the approach proposed by Grooms, which eliminates this shortcoming. Eddy fluxes are computed based on a stochastic mixing length model, which leads to a frame invariant formulation. As in the original closure proposed by Grooms, eddy fluxes are proportional to the product of two Gaussian variables, and the parameterization reduces to the Gent and McWilliams parameterization for the mean buyoancy fluxes.