NPG Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics NPG Nonlin. Processes Geophys. 1607-7946 Copernicus Publications Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/npg-20-945-2013 Numerical investigation of algebraic oceanic turbulent mixing-layer models Chacón-Rebollo T. 1 Gómez-Mármol M. 2 Rubino S. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4571-1936 1 Dpto. EDAN & IMUS, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Tarfia, s/n. 41012, Seville, Spain Dpto. EDAN, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Tarfia, s/n. 41012, Seville, Spain 06 11 2013 20 6 945 954 Copyright: © 2013 T. Chacón-Rebollo et al. 2013 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This article is available from https://npg.copernicus.org/articles/20/945/2013/npg-20-945-2013.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://npg.copernicus.org/articles/20/945/2013/npg-20-945-2013.pdf

In this paper we investigate the finite-time and asymptotic behaviour of algebraic turbulent mixing-layer models by numerical simulation. We compare the performances given by three different settings of the eddy viscosity. We consider Richardson number-based vertical eddy viscosity models. Two of these are classical algebraic turbulence models usually used in numerical simulations of global oceanic circulation, i.e. the Pacanowski–Philander and the Gent models, while the other one is a more recent model (Bennis et al., 2010) proposed to prevent numerical instabilities generated by physically unstable configurations. The numerical schemes are based on the standard finite element method. We perform some numerical tests for relatively large deviations of realistic initial conditions provided by the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array. These initial conditions correspond to states close to mixing-layer profiles, measured on the Equatorial Pacific region called the West-Pacific Warm Pool. We conclude that mixing-layer profiles could be considered as kinds of "absorbing configurations" in finite time that asymptotically evolve to steady states under the application of negative surface energy fluxes.

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