Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/H020837/1
A new approach to parameterizing ocean eddies: energetics, conservation and flow stability
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor P Berloff, Imperial College London, Mathematics
- Grant held at:
- Imperial College London, Mathematics
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Ocean Circulation
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The ocean is populated by a vigorous eddy field. These eddies are the oceanic analogue of weather systems in the atmosphere, but occur on a much smaller spatial scale due to the different densities of seawater and air, and differences in the vertical structure of the ocean and atmosphere. Ocean eddies also evolve on longer time scales, typically months, and can effect the global circulation on time scales up to millennia. Hence modelling the global circulation of the ocean is a much more challenging task than the atmosphere due to the greater range of spatial and temporal scales that must be captured. One consequence is that ocean climate models usually 'paramaterise' ocean eddies, that is, rather than simulate the eddies directly, the indirect effect of the eddies on the larger-scale circulation is represented by modifying the equations that are solved by the ocean model. This is a challenging task and eddy parameterisations are a source of great uncertainty in ocean climate projections. The aim of this project is to developed improved knowledge of how ocean eddies influence the large-scale ocean circulation and to developed improved eddy parameterisations. In particular, we aim to develop schemes that avoid doing things that we know are simply incorrect, such as introducing spurious sources of energy. By ensuring that our eddy parameterisations are consistent with fundamental physical principles, such as conservation of energy and angular momentum (an example of which loosely equates to the amount of water circulating around Antarctica), we believe that we can provide significant constraints on what ocean eddies can and cannot do. The new eddy parameterisations will be tested on a state-of-the-art computational ocean model.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Oct 2010 - 30 Sep 2013
- Value:
- £10,644 Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/H020837/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grant (FEC)
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £10,644
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,861 | £4,580 | £772 | £2,428 |
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