Turbulent mixing in the Northern North Sea: a numerical model study

The aim of this study is to intervalidate observations and numerical simulation results for the turbulent dissipation rate under strong wind conditions in the Northern North Sea during one week in October 1998. The observations were obtained by spatially and temporally averaging measurements of small-scale shear with a free-falling shear probe. The 1D numerical model used for this study is based on a state-of-the-art two-equation k - epsilon turbulence model with an algebraic second-moment closure scheme. It is discussed by means of annual and seasonal model simulations how the influence of heat and salt advection and internal waves can be accounted for. After these precautions, the agreement between observations and simulations of the turbulent dissipation rate are fairly good. Remaining differences cannot only be explained by problems such as undersampling and noise level, but also by idealising model assumptions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.