Abstract:

This dataset is generated by the experiments of idealized large-eddy simulation (LES) and the theoretical analyst expression. The LES results that were run in the related publication (Chor et al. 2018) were produced using an in-house LES model and the simulation settings are described in the paper's Supporting Information. Runs in the model simulate the oceanic mixed layer (the top 120 meters of the ocean). Five simulations were run with different values for the forcing conditions, which are wind shear, buoyancy fluxes at the surface, and Stokes drift. Eight different passive scalar fields, each of them with a different value for the terminal rise velocity, were initiated and evolved until steady-state, after which statistics were collected. This dataset supports the publication: Chor, T., Yang, D., Meneveau, C., & Chamecki, M. (2018). A turbulence velocity scale for predicting the fate of buoyant materials in the oceanic mixed layer. Geophysical Research Letters. doi:10.1029/2018gl080296

Suggested Citation:

Tomas Chor, Marcelo Chamecki. 2018. Dataset for: A turbulence velocity scale for predicting the fate of buoyant materials in the oceanic mixed layer. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-rctx-2r57

Publications:

Chor, T., Yang, D., Meneveau, C., & Chamecki, M. (2018). A turbulence velocity scale for predicting the fate of buoyant materials in the Oceanic Mixed Layer. Geophysical Research Letters. doi:10.1029/2018gl080296

Purpose:

The purpose was to test analytical predictions for vertical mixing and horizontal transport of passive buoyant scalars.

Data Parameters and Units:

Particle concentration (normalized, dimensionless); depth of center of mass normalized by ocean mixed layer depth (dimensionless); and horizontal transport velocity (m/s). General contents of NetCDF files: File fig1.nc contains three snapshots (3D data), each for one simulation plotted in figure 1 of the associated manuscript. File fig2_sigma_cm.nc contains the center of mass calculated from LES results for each of the simulations. File fig2_profiles.nc contains the profiles of the LES simulations for each different value of the rise velocity (w_r). File fig3_Uh_chor.nc contains the advection velocity of the center of mass calculated using our LES model. File fig3_Uh_laxague.nc contains the advection velocity of the center of mass calculated using the simulation from Laxague et al. 2018. File fig3_Uh_liang.nc contains the advection velocity of the center of mass calculated using the simulation from Liang et al. 2018. Associated LES experiment parameters: Simulation, friction velocity (m/s), wind velocity at 10 m(m/s), convective velocity (m/s), Langmuir number, velocity scale (m/s) , mixed layer depth (m), Domain type, vertical resolution normalized by h.

Provenance and Historical References:

Laxague, N.J., Özgökmen, T.M., Haus, B.K., Novelli, G., Shcherbina, A., Sutherland, P., Guigand, C.M., Lund, B., Mehta, S., Alday, M. and Molemaker, J (2018). Observations of Near‐Surface Current Shear Help Describe Oceanic Oil and Plastic Transport. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(1), 245-249. doi:10.1002/2017gl075891 Liang, J.H., Wan, X., Rose, K.A., Sullivan, P.P. and McWilliams, J.C. (2018). Horizontal Dispersion of Buoyant Materials in the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 48(9), pp.2103-2125. doi:10.1175/jpo-d-18-0020.1

Individual Files: