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Abstract: Predictive ability of five different embedded turbulent mixing models that range from second-order turbulent closure to bulk mixing parameterization is examined in the Mediterranean Sea. Each is embedded in the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Mixed layer depth (MLD), which is one of the most important upper ocean variables, is used to evaluate the treatment of turbulent processes in each model run. In addition to overall spatial and temporal variability, analyses of MLD are presented using an extensive set (3976) of temperature and salinity profiles from various data sources during 2003–2006. Results obtained from simulations (with no data assimilation and relaxation only to salinity) for the five mixing models are compared with observed MLDs obtained from in situ temperature and salinity profile observations. To ensure the robustness of the validation statistics MLD is computed using both curvature and threshold based methodologies. Results indicate that while all mixing schemes represent the MLD well, the bulk mixing models have substantial accuracy deficiencies relative to the higher order mixing models. The modeled MLDs are slightly deeper than observed MLDs with the mean bias error ∼10m for the higher order mixing models while the bulk mixing model bias error is 15m or more. The RMS error for the higher order mixing models is ∼40m while it is ∼50m for the bulk mixing models. The bulk mixing models had substantially larger errors particularly for the curvature MLD definition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The relationships between tropical Atlantic Ocean surface currents and horizontal (mass) divergence, sea surface temperature (SST), and winds on monthly-to-annual time scales are described for the time period from 1993 through 2003. Surface horizontal mass divergence (upwelling) is calculated using surface currents estimated from satellite sea surface height, surface vector wind, and SST data with a quasi-linear, steady-state model. Geostrophic and Ekman dynamical contributions are considered. The satellite-derived surface currents match climatological drifter and ship-drift currents well, and divergence patterns are consistent with the annual north–south movement of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and equatorial cold tongue evolution. While the zonal velocity component is strongest, the meridional velocity component controls divergence along the equator and to the north beneath the ITCZ. Zonal velocity divergence is weaker but nonnegligible. Along the equator, a strong divergence (upwelling) season in the central/eastern equatorial Atlantic peaks in May while equatorial SST is cooling within the cold tongue. In addition, a secondary weaker and shorter equatorial divergence occurs in November also coincident with a slight SST cooling. The vertical transport at 30-m depth, averaged across the equatorial Atlantic Ocean between 2°S and 2°N for the record length, is 15(±6) × 106 m3 s-1. Results are consistent with what is known about equatorial upwelling and cold tongue evolution and establish a new method for observing the tropical upper ocean relative to geostrophic and Ekman dynamics at spatial and temporal coverage characteristic of satellite-based observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]