Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models

Abstract This paper presents a self‐contained derivation, from first principles, of a convective vertical mixing scheme based on the Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux (EDMF) approach. This type of closure separates vertical turbulent fluxes into two components: an eddy‐diffusivity (ED) which accounts for l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Perrot, F. Lemarié, T. Dubos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004273
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832583462835453952
author M. Perrot
F. Lemarié
T. Dubos
author_facet M. Perrot
F. Lemarié
T. Dubos
author_sort M. Perrot
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper presents a self‐contained derivation, from first principles, of a convective vertical mixing scheme based on the Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux (EDMF) approach. This type of closure separates vertical turbulent fluxes into two components: an eddy‐diffusivity (ED) which accounts for local small‐scale mixing in a nearly isotropic environment, and a mass‐flux (MF) transport term, which represents the non‐local transport driven by vertically coherent plumes. Using the multi‐fluid averaging underlying the MF concept, we review consistent energy budgets between resolved and subgrid scales for seawater and dry atmosphere, in anelastic and Boussinesq frameworks. We demonstrate that when using an EDMF scheme, closed energy budgets can be recovered if: (a) bulk production terms of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) by shear buoyancy include MF contributions; (b) boundary conditions are consistent with EDMF, to avoid spurious energy fluxes at the boundary. Furthermore, we show that lateral mixing, due to either entrainment or detrainment induces a net production of TKE via the shear term, with enhanced production under increased horizontal drag. We also provide constraints on boundary conditions to ensure mathematical consistency. Throughout the theoretical development, we maintain transparency regarding underlying assumptions. In a companion paper (Perrot and Lemarié (2024, https://hal.science/hal‐04666049); hereafter Part II) we assess the validity of these hypotheses, and analyze the sensitivity of the scheme to modeling choices against Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and observational data on oceanic convection. Part II also details an energy‐conserving discretization and quantifies energy biases in inconsistent formulations.
format Article
id doaj-art-36351cdf6d454eb0a7134f62d1959b67
institution Kabale University
issn 1942-2466
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
record_format Article
series Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
spelling doaj-art-36351cdf6d454eb0a7134f62d1959b672025-01-28T13:21:09ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662025-01-01171n/an/a10.1029/2024MS004273Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and ModelsM. Perrot0F. Lemarié1T. Dubos2University Grenoble Alpes Inria CNRS Grenoble INP LJK Grenoble FranceUniversity Grenoble Alpes Inria CNRS Grenoble INP LJK Grenoble FranceLaboratory Meteorologie Dynamique IPSL Ecole Polytechnique Palaiseau FranceAbstract This paper presents a self‐contained derivation, from first principles, of a convective vertical mixing scheme based on the Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux (EDMF) approach. This type of closure separates vertical turbulent fluxes into two components: an eddy‐diffusivity (ED) which accounts for local small‐scale mixing in a nearly isotropic environment, and a mass‐flux (MF) transport term, which represents the non‐local transport driven by vertically coherent plumes. Using the multi‐fluid averaging underlying the MF concept, we review consistent energy budgets between resolved and subgrid scales for seawater and dry atmosphere, in anelastic and Boussinesq frameworks. We demonstrate that when using an EDMF scheme, closed energy budgets can be recovered if: (a) bulk production terms of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) by shear buoyancy include MF contributions; (b) boundary conditions are consistent with EDMF, to avoid spurious energy fluxes at the boundary. Furthermore, we show that lateral mixing, due to either entrainment or detrainment induces a net production of TKE via the shear term, with enhanced production under increased horizontal drag. We also provide constraints on boundary conditions to ensure mathematical consistency. Throughout the theoretical development, we maintain transparency regarding underlying assumptions. In a companion paper (Perrot and Lemarié (2024, https://hal.science/hal‐04666049); hereafter Part II) we assess the validity of these hypotheses, and analyze the sensitivity of the scheme to modeling choices against Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and observational data on oceanic convection. Part II also details an energy‐conserving discretization and quantifies energy biases in inconsistent formulations.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004273physics‐dynamics couplingconvective parameterizationenergy budgetsoceanatmosphereeddy‐diffusivity mass‐flux
spellingShingle M. Perrot
F. Lemarié
T. Dubos
Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
physics‐dynamics coupling
convective parameterization
energy budgets
ocean
atmosphere
eddy‐diffusivity mass‐flux
title Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
title_full Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
title_fullStr Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
title_full_unstemmed Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
title_short Energetically Consistent Eddy‐Diffusivity Mass‐Flux Convective Schemes: 1. Theory and Models
title_sort energetically consistent eddy diffusivity mass flux convective schemes 1 theory and models
topic physics‐dynamics coupling
convective parameterization
energy budgets
ocean
atmosphere
eddy‐diffusivity mass‐flux
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024MS004273
work_keys_str_mv AT mperrot energeticallyconsistenteddydiffusivitymassfluxconvectiveschemes1theoryandmodels
AT flemarie energeticallyconsistenteddydiffusivitymassfluxconvectiveschemes1theoryandmodels
AT tdubos energeticallyconsistenteddydiffusivitymassfluxconvectiveschemes1theoryandmodels