Assessment of numerical simulations of deep circulation and variability in the Gulf of Mexico using recent observations

View/ Open
Date
2020-04-08Author
Morey, Steven L.
Concept link
Gopalakrishnan, Ganesh
Concept link
Pallás-Sanz, Enric
Concept link
Azevedo Correia De Souza, Joao Marcos
Concept link
Donohue, Kathleen A.
Concept link
Pérez-Brunius, Paula
Concept link
Dukhovskoy, Dmitry S.
Concept link
Chassignet, Eric P.
Concept link
Cornuelle, Bruce D.
Concept link
Bower, Amy S.
Concept link
Furey, Heather H.
Concept link
Hamilton, Peter
Concept link
Candela, Julio
Concept link
Metadata
Show full item recordCitable URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1912/26392As published
https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-19-0137.1DOI
10.1175/JPO-D-19-0137.1Abstract
Three simulations of the circulation in the Gulf of Mexico (the “Gulf”) using different numerical general circulation models are compared with results of recent large-scale observational campaigns conducted throughout the deep (>1500 m) Gulf. Analyses of these observations have provided new understanding of large-scale mean circulation features and variability throughout the deep Gulf. Important features include cyclonic flow along the continental slope, deep cyclonic circulation in the western Gulf, a counterrotating pair of cells under the Loop Current region, and a cyclonic cell to the south of this pair. These dominant circulation features are represented in each of the ocean model simulations, although with some obvious differences. A striking difference between all the models and the observations is that the simulated deep eddy kinetic energy under the Loop Current region is generally less than one-half of that computed from observations. A multidecadal integration of one of these numerical simulations is used to evaluate the uncertainty of estimates of velocity statistics in the deep Gulf computed from limited-length (4 years) observational or model records. This analysis shows that the main deep circulation features identified from the observational studies appear to be robust and are not substantially impacted by variability on time scales longer than the observational records. Differences in strengths and structures of the circulation features are identified, however, and quantified through standard error analysis of the statistical estimates using the model solutions.
Description
Author Posting. © American Meteorological Society, 2020. This article is posted here by permission of American Meteorological Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Physical Oceanography 50(4), (2020): 1045-1064, doi:10.1175/JPO-D-19-0137.1.
Collections
Suggested Citation
Morey, S. L., Gopalakrishnan, G., Pallas Sanz, E., Correia De Souza,Joao Marcos Azevedo, Donohue, K., Perez-Brunius, P., Dukhovskoy, D., Chassignet, E., Cornuelle, B., Bower, A., Furey, H., Hamilton, P., & Candela, J. (2020). Assessment of numerical simulations of deep circulation and variability in the Gulf of Mexico using recent observations. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 50(4), 1045-1064.Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The impact of finite-amplitude bottom topography on internal wave generation in the Southern Ocean
Nikurashin, Maxim; Ferrari, Raffaele; Grisouard, Nicolas; Polzin, Kurt L. (American Meteorological Society, 2014-11)Direct observations in the Southern Ocean report enhanced internal wave activity and turbulence in a kilometer-thick layer above rough bottom topography collocated with the deep-reaching fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar ... -
Unabated bottom water warming and freshening in the south Pacific Ocean.
Purkey, Sarah G.; Johnson, Gregory C.; Talley, Lynne D.; Sloyan, Bernadette M.; Wijffels, Susan E.; Smethie, William M.; Mecking, Sabine; Katsumata, Katsuro (American Geophysical Union, 2019-02-20)Abyssal ocean warming contributed substantially to anthropogenic ocean heat uptake and global sea level rise between 1990 and 2010. In the 2010s, several hydrographic sections crossing the South Pacific Ocean were occupied ... -
Surface and bottom boundary layer dynamics on a shallow submarine bank : southern flank of Georges Bank
Werner, Sandra R. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1999-08)The thesis investigates the circulation at a 76-m deep study site on the southern flank of Georges Bank, a shallow submarine bank located between the deeper Gulf of Maine and the continental slope. Emphasis is placed on ...