期刊名称：Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
电子版ISSN：1942-2466
出版年度：2021
卷号：13
期号：3
页码：e2020MS002302
DOI：10.1029/2020MS002302
出版社：John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
摘要：As one kind of submesoscale instability, symmetric instability (SI) of the ocean surface mixed layer (SML) plays a significant role in modulating the SML energetics and material transport. The small spatial scales of SI, O (10 m–1 km), are not resolved by current climate ocean models and most regional models. This study describes comparisons in an idealized configuration of the SI parameterization scheme proposed by Bachman et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2016.12.003 ) (SI‐parameterized) versus the K‐Profile Parameterization scheme (SI‐neglected) as compared to a SI‐permitting model; all variants use the Coastal and Regional Ocean Community Model version of the Regional Ocean Modeling System and this study also serves to introduce the SI parameterization in that model. In both the SI‐parameterized and SI‐permitting models, the geostrophic shear production is enhanced and anticyclonic potential vorticity is reduced versus the SI‐neglected model. A comprehensive comparison of the energetics (geostrophic shear production, vertical buoyancy flux), mixed layer thickness, potential vorticity, and tracer redistribution indicate that all these variables in the SI‐parameterized case have structures closer to the SI‐permitting case in contrast to the SI‐neglected one, demonstrating that the SI scheme qualitatively improves representation of the impacts of SI. This work builds toward applying the SI scheme in a realistic regional or climate model. Plain Language Abstract Symmetric instability (SI) of the ocean surface mixed layer leads to small, fast features that affect energy and material transports. The coarse resolution of current climate and regional models cannot resolve SI, so accounting for its impacts requires parameterization. This work implements a SI parameterization scheme in the Coastal and Regional Ocean Community Model and the evaluation indicates that the scheme improves the simulation results.
