QG-DL-Ekman theory for ocean flows

Abstract: 

In [1], the authors suggested an extension of the classical quasi-geostrophic theory with Ekman boundary layer for the atmosphere to cover strong diabatic effects in the lower 3km of the troposphere. The result is labelled "QG-DL-Ekman", where DL stands for "diaba- tic layer". The theory has recently been generalized to moist atmospheric flows in [2]. Quasi-geostrophic theory has also been used to model the upper layers of ocean flows, and we will describe efforts by the speaker and intern Sailan Bouchard at transfering the key concepts of QG-DL-Ekman to the ocean setting. One potential application of the theory concerns vortices in the Aghoulas current.

[1] Klein R., Schielicke L., Pfahl S., Khouider B., QG-DL-Ekman: Dynamics of a diabatic layer in the quasi-geostrophic framework, J. Atmos. Sci.,  vol. 79(3), 887-905 (2022) https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017JC012969

[2] D. Bäumer, R. Klein, PQG-DL-Ekman: a triple-deck boundary layer theory for large-scale atmospheric flow with moist process closures, https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.20191