Numerical Studies of Mesoscale Eddies Using Quasigeostrophic and Primitive Equation Ocean Models

摘要

The dynamical role of mesoscale eddies in the ocean general circulation is investigated using eddy-resolving quasigeostrophic (QG) and primitive equation (PE) models which are parametrically identical. The results of both QG and PE numerical experiments in mid-latitude, rectangular ocean basins are systematically intercompared and extensively analyzed in terms of basic quantities: energetics, relative and potential vorticity, and eddy momentum and heat transports. Although overall the analyses show that the results are fairly similar between the two models, a closer examination reveals some significant differences. Most of these differences are due to the presence of Kelvin waves along the lateral boundaries of the PE model. These waves are the main source for mean and eddy divergent kinetic energy.