ISSN Print: 1049-0787
ISSN Online: 2375-0294
Indexed in
THERMAL STRATIFICATION MODELING FOR OCEANS AND LAKES
SINOPSIS
A review of thermal stratification models as applied to lakes and oceans suggests that there has, to date, been little interaction between applications to the two systems, despite the fact that the modeling approximations used in each sphere have resulted in almost identical model formulations. These can be further subdivided, in each case, into integral or mixed layer models and differential models employing a parametrization of eddy diffusion coefficients. Attention has been focused on contrasts between model formulations and applicability without introducing the several inter-model comparison case studies recently made in the literature (e.g., Martin, 1985). The computational requirements for stratification models intended for incorporation into coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation climate models are also considered, since this is likely to be one of the imminent key areas of application for such thermodynamic models.