The Total Energy Flux Leaving the Ocean's Mixed Layer

Abstract

The total energy flux leaving the ocean’s spatially and seasonally varying mixed layer is estimated using a global ⅝1/10° ocean general circulation model. From the total wind-power input of 3.33 TW into near-inertial waves (0.35 TW), subinertial fluctuations (0.87 TW), and the time-mean circulation (2.11 TW), 0.92 TW leave the mixed layer, with 0.04 TW (11.4%) due to near-inertial motions, 0.07 TW (8.04%) due to subinertial fluctuations, and 0.81 TW (38.4%) due to time-mean motions. Of the 0.81 TW from the time-mean motions, 0.5 TW result from the projection of the horizontal flux onto the sloped bottom of the mixed layer. This projection is negligible for the transient fluxes. The spatial structure of the vertical flux is determined principally by the wind stress curl. The mean and subinertial fluxes leaving the mixed layer are approximately 40%–50% smaller than the respective fluxes across the Ekman layer according to the method proposed by Stern. The fraction related to transient fluctuations tends to decrease with increasing depth of the mixed layer and with increasing strength of wind stress variability.