@article{fdi:010053741,
  title = {{S}ubmesoscale dynamics in tropical instability waves},
  author = {{M}archesiello, {P}atrick and {C}apet, {X}. and {M}enk{\`e}s, {C}hristophe and {K}ennan, {S}. {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}ubmesoscale dynamics in tropical instability waves ({TIW}s) of the {P}acific ocean are analyzed from nested numerical simulations of increasing resolution (36 km, 12 km, and 4 km). {I}t is shown that numerical convergence, as determined by an invariance of the kinetic energy ({KE}) spectrum with resolution, can be obtained for grid spacing around 10 km. {T}his finding contrasts with mid-latitude simulations of submesoscale processes that do not converge even for grid spacing less than 1 km. {T}he difference is associated with the larger {R}ossby radius of deformation at low latitudes due to the weaker {C}oriolis parameter. {F}or the same reason, the mixed layer {R}ossby radius is larger as well, resulting in submesoscale mixed layer eddies ({MLE}s) with scales of 50-200 km. {S}imilar to {MLE}s at mid-latitudes, those eddies that form at {TIW} fronts restratify the mixed layer by releasing available potential energy. {T}hey lead to an additional source of {KE} at submesoscale that is larger in the finer resolution simulations. {A}t wavelengths smaller than the mesoscale peak of {KE} injection, a forward cascade of {KE} is evident in the simulations where three dynamical ranges are observed: a quasi-inertial range of slope k(-2), a pre-dissipation range and a far-dissipation range. {N}umerical dissipation is evaluated and significant dissipation is found to occur in a pre-dissipation range, i.e., for wavenumbers well below the range where the {KE} spectrum tails off exponentially.},
  keywords = {{S}ubmesoscale ; {T}ropical instability waves ; {M}odeling},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{O}cean {M}odelling},
  volume = {39},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {31--46},
  ISSN = {1463-5003},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ocemod.2011.04.011},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053741},
}