The Mechanical Energy Budget of a Regional Ocean Model

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-16-0086.1
• Publication Date: 2016-07-11T22:40:34Z
• Authors: Parker MacCready; Sarah N. Giddings
• Keywords: Energy budget; Forcing (mathematics); Downwelling; Seasonality

Abstract A method is presented for calculating a complete, numerically closed, mechanical energy budget in realistic simulation of circulation coastal–estuarine domain. The formulated terms the “local” available potential (APE; Holliday and McIntyre 1981). APE may be split up into two parts based on whether water parcel has been displaced or down relative to its rest depth. This decomposition clearly shows different signatures coastal upwelling (particles by wind) estuary mixing). Because definition local almost same sense that kinetic is, this study form meaningful integrals reservoir even over regions have open boundaries. However, choice volume use calculation state not unique influence results. Complete volume-integrated budgets shelf volumes model northeast Pacific Salish Sea give new way quantify these systems physical forces state. On continental shelf, quantified using APE, which found order-one seasonal variation with an increase due winds decrease mixing. In estuarine system, much less variation, magnitude most important forcing would take 7 months fully drain energy.