On available energy in the ocean and its application to the Barents Sea
On available energy in the ocean and its application to the Barents Sea
Following meteorological practice the definition of available potential energy in the ocean is conventionally defined in terms of the properties of the global ocean. However there is also a requirement for a localised definition, for example the energy released when shelf water cascades down a continental shelf in the Arctic and enters a boundary current.
In this note we start from first principals to obtain an exact expression for the available energy (AE) in such a situation. We show that the available energy depends on enstrophy and gravity. We also show that it is exactly equal to the work done by the pressure gradient and by buoyancy.
The results are used to investigate the distribution of AE in the Barents Sea and surrounding regions relative to the interior of the Arctic Ocean. We find that water entering the Barents Sea from the Atlantic already has a high AE, that it is increased by cooling but that much of the increase is lost overcoming turbulence during the passage through the region to the Arctic Ocean. However on entering the Arctic enough available energy remains to drive a significant current around the margin of the ocean. The core of raised available energy also acts as a tracer which can be followed along the continental slope beyond the dateline.
Thermodynamics, Energy, Barents Sea
897-931
Levine, Richard C.
f8e148f7-4235-4add-9028-49721d877d97
Webb, David J.
6fc412d4-f113-4e55-9e3a-dad18223a445
27 November 2007
Levine, Richard C.
f8e148f7-4235-4add-9028-49721d877d97
Webb, David J.
6fc412d4-f113-4e55-9e3a-dad18223a445
Levine, Richard C. and Webb, David J.
(2007)
On available energy in the ocean and its application to the Barents Sea.
Ocean Science Discussions, 4 (6), .
Abstract
Following meteorological practice the definition of available potential energy in the ocean is conventionally defined in terms of the properties of the global ocean. However there is also a requirement for a localised definition, for example the energy released when shelf water cascades down a continental shelf in the Arctic and enters a boundary current.
In this note we start from first principals to obtain an exact expression for the available energy (AE) in such a situation. We show that the available energy depends on enstrophy and gravity. We also show that it is exactly equal to the work done by the pressure gradient and by buoyancy.
The results are used to investigate the distribution of AE in the Barents Sea and surrounding regions relative to the interior of the Arctic Ocean. We find that water entering the Barents Sea from the Atlantic already has a high AE, that it is increased by cooling but that much of the increase is lost overcoming turbulence during the passage through the region to the Arctic Ocean. However on entering the Arctic enough available energy remains to drive a significant current around the margin of the ocean. The core of raised available energy also acts as a tracer which can be followed along the continental slope beyond the dateline.
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Submitted date: 12 November 2007
Published date: 27 November 2007
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Copyright belongs to authors. Published under a Creative Commons Licence (See Ocean Science web pages for details: www.ocean-science.net).
Keywords:
Thermodynamics, Energy, Barents Sea
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Local EPrints ID: 49737
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/49737
ISSN: 1812-0822
PURE UUID: 9b6d8247-ac37-4893-81ee-6c3369bd3f85
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Date deposited: 28 Nov 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:58
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Author:
Richard C. Levine
Author:
David J. Webb
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