A turbulent energy model for geophysical flows

A simple turbulent flow model for geophysical flows is presented, which is based on the transport equation for turbulent energy and on algebraic expressions relating the Reynolds stress and turbulent heat flux to the velocity and temperature gradients. The model, which is similar to the 2.5 level closure model of Mellor and Yamada, includes constraints based on the realizability conditions as well as expressions for the length scale which account for the influence of stratification and the Coriolis acceleration. The model is shown to reproduce satisfactorily the main features of existing laboratory measurements of stress-induced and convective turbulent entrainment in stratified flows.