Turbulent Vertical Kinetic Energy in the Ocean Mixed Layer

Abstract

Vertical velocities in the ocean boundary layer were measured for two weeks at an open ocean, wintertime site using neutrally buoyant floats. Simultaneous measurements of the surface meteorology and surface waves showed a large variability in both wind and wave properties and only weak correlations between them. Buoyancy forcing was weak. The mean square vertical velocity in the boundary layer σ2w measured from the vertical motion of the floats was proportional to the squared friction velocity u2? estimated from shipboard meteorological measurements using bulk formulas. Thus σ2w = Au2? (the rate of momentum transport from the atmosphere to the ocean is ?u2?, where ? is the density of the water). The deviations from this relation can be attributed entirely to statistical variation and measurement error. The measured values of σ2w were corrected for measurement biases and the nonturbulent contributions of internal waves. The value of the turbulent part of A is 1.75?2 times that measured in laboratory and oceanic solid-wall turbulent boundary layers driven by shear alone. Although surface waves undoubtedly play a large role in the physics of the oceanic boundary layer, their effects on vertical velocity variance are remarkably well parameterized by wind stress in this data.