Form of the Temperature-Salinity Relationship in the Central Water: Evidence for Double-Diffusive Mixing

1981 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1015-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond W. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Double Diffusive

scholarly journals Double-diffusive mixing makes a small contribution to the global ocean circulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine G. van der Boog ◽  
Henk A. Dijkstra ◽  
Julie D. Pietrzak ◽  
Caroline A. Katsman
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Global Ocean Circulation ◽  
Diffusive Fluxes ◽  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Diffusive Processes ◽  
Flowing Waters ◽  
Double Diffusive

AbstractDouble-diffusive processes enhance diapycnal mixing of heat and salt in the open ocean. However, observationally based evidence of the effects of double-diffusive mixing on the global ocean circulation is lacking. Here we analyze the occurrence of double-diffusive thermohaline staircases in a dataset containing over 480,000 temperature and salinity profiles from Argo floats and Ice-Tethered Profilers. We show that about 14% of all profiles contains thermohaline staircases that appear clustered in specific regions, with one hitherto unknown cluster overlying the westward flowing waters of the Tasman Leakage. We estimate the combined contribution of double-diffusive fluxes in all thermohaline staircases to the global ocean’s mechanical energy budget as 7.5 GW [0.1 GW; 32.8 GW]. This is small compared to the estimated energy required to maintain the observed ocean stratification of roughly 2 TW. Nevertheless, we suggest that the regional effects, for example near Australia, could be pronounced.

scholarly journals A Global Ocean Model with Double-Diffusive Mixing

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1124-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Merryfield ◽  
Greg Holloway ◽  
Ann E. Gargett
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Model ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Double Diffusive

A note on modeling double diffusive mixing in the global ocean

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Kantha ◽  
Sandro Carniel ◽  
Mauro Sclavo
Keyword(s):  
Global Ocean ◽  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Double Diffusive

scholarly journals Global dataset of thermohaline staircases obtained from Argo floats and Ice-Tethered Profilers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine G. van der Boog ◽  
J. Otto Koetsier ◽  
Henk A. Dijkstra ◽  
Julie D. Pietrzak ◽  
Caroline A. Katsman
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transport ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Argo Floats ◽  
Mixed Layers ◽  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Double Diffusive

Abstract. Thermohaline staircases are associated with double-diffusive mixing. They are characterized by stepped structures consisting of mixed layers of typically tens of metres thick that are separated by much thinner interfaces. Through these interfaces enhanced diapycnal salt and heat transport take place. In this study, we present a global dataset of thermohaline staircases derived from observations of Argo profiling floats and Ice-Tethered Profilers using a novel detection algorithm. To establish the presence of thermohaline staircases, the algorithm detects subsurface mixed layers and analyses the interfaces in between. Of each detected staircase, the conservative temperature, absolute salinity, depth, and height, as well as some other properties of the mixed layers and interfaces, are computed. The algorithm is applied to 487 493 quality-controlled temperature and salinity profiles to obtain a global dataset. The performance of the algorithm is verified through an analysis of independent regional observations. The algorithm and global dataset are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4286170.

scholarly journals Life and Demise of Intrathermocline Mesoscale Vortices

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 3087-3103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timour Radko ◽  
Cassandra Sisti
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Characteristic Time ◽  
Numerical Experiments ◽  
The Other ◽  
Characteristic Time Scale ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Mediterranean Origin ◽  
Diffusive Mixing ◽  
Double Diffusive

AbstractThis study is focused on finescale dissipation mechanisms of intrathermocline mesoscale vortices exemplified by meddies, large anticyclonic salt lenses of Mediterranean origin commonly observed in the lower North Atlantic thermocline. High-resolution numerical experiments are diagnosed to quantify the rates of temperature and salinity (T, S) dispersion in salt lenses and to determine the relative contribution of various mixing processes in the decay of their thermohaline signatures. This study finds, in agreement with observations, that meddies dissipate on the characteristic time scale of several years and that their ultimate disintegration can be attributed to thermohaline interleaving driven by double-diffusive mixing. Mechanically generated turbulence, on the other hand, tends to suppress the interleaving and therefore has an adverse net effect on eddy dispersion. It is found that the dispersion properties of static lenses, characterized by density-compensated T–S patterns, and their rapidly rotating counterparts are dramatically different.

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