The Lattice Boltzmann (LB) method, which evolved from the theory of lattice gases, offers some significant advantages over more conventional methods of computational fluid dynamics; it is aesthetically appealing, simple to code, and remarkably stable. Its massively parallel construction virtually guarantees that LB will play an important role in ocean circulation modeling.
We construct a LB model of a single-layer, "reduced gravity" ocean in a square basin with shallow water or planetary geostrophic dynamics, and boundary conditions of no slip or no stress. When the volume of the moving upper layer is sufficiently small, the motionless lower layer outcrops over a broad are of the northern wind gyre, and the pattern of separated and isolated western boundary currents agrees with the theories of Parsons and Veronis.
Because planetary geostrophic dynamics omits inertia, LB solutions of the planetary geostrophic equations do not require a lattice with the high degree of symmetry needed to represent the Reynolds stress. This property gives planetary geostrophic dynamics a significant computational advantage over the primitive equations, especially in 3 dimensions.
Close window or click on previous window to return to the Conference Program.
12th Conference on Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics