Абстракт
Mixing in the ocean and shelf seas is critical for the vertical distribution of dynamically active properties, such as
density and biogeochemical tracers. Eight different decadal simulations are used to assess the skill of vertical turbulent
mixing schemes (TMS) in a 3-D regional model of tidally active shelf seas. The TMS differ in the type of stability functions
used and in the Ozmidov/Deardorff/Galperin limiter of the turbulence length scales. We review the dependence of the critical
Richardson and Prandtl numbers to define the diffusiveness of the TMS. The skill in representing bias and variability of
stratification profiles is assessed with five different metrics: surface and bottom temperatures and pycnocline depth,
thickness, and strength. The assessment is made against hydrography from three data sets (28,000 profiles in total). Bottom
and surface temperatures are found to be as sensitive to TMS choice as to horizontal resolution or heat flux formulation, as
reported in other studies. All TMS underrepresent the pycnocline depth and benthic temperatures. This suggests physical
processes are missing from the model, and these are discussed. Different TMSs show the best results for different metrics,
and there is no outright winner. Simulations coupled with an ecosystem model show the choice of TMS strongly affects the
ecosystem behavior: shifting the timing of peak chlorophyll by 1 month, showing regional chlorophyll differences of order
100%, and redistributing the production of chorophyll between the pycnocline and mixed layer.