Fig. 4: Diagrams of the ocean’s mechanical energy budget.
From: Controls of the global overturning circulation of the ocean
a Budget when all motion is resolved and described by the equations of motion, and b budget for the large-scale mean ocean state when small- to meso-scale motion is parameterized. In the former case, potential energy U is generated by molecular diffusion and converted (C) to kinetic energy K. Kinetic energy is also powered by wind (W) and tides (Φ) and eventually dissipated (D). The latter case b describes the mean large-scale budget for the mean potential energy Um and mean kinetic energy Km relevant to a non-eddying ocean model, with parameterized turbulent mixing acting as a source of mean potential energy, and convection and mesoscale eddy conversion acting as sinks. Wind work on the large-scale surface velocities (Wm) is either dissipated (mostly locally in the surface turbulent layer) or it powers the geostrophic circulation through Ekman pumping.
