An asymptotically reduced model of turbulent Langmuir circulation

An asymptotically exact reduced model describing Langmuir circulation (LC), an upper ocean convective flow, in the strong surface wave forcing limit is constructed. Linear and secondary stability analyses suggest that the model captures correctly the dominant instability modes arising in strongly anisotropic, turbulent LC. The model is conceptually simpler, and may be more amenable to numerical simulation, than the three-dimensional Craik-Leibovich equations from which the reduced equation set is derived.