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Detailed Reference Information |
Peters, H., Gregg, M.C. and Sanford, T.B. (1995). On the parameterization of equatorial turbulence: Effect of fine-scale variations below the range of the diurnal cycle. Journal of Geophysical Research 100: doi: 10.1029/95JC01513. issn: 0148-0227. |
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We seek relationships among turbulence and fine-scale and large-scale flow by ensemble averaging the observations taken in the Pacific Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) at 0¿/140 ¿W in April 1987. A combination of fine- and microscale sensors resolves vertical wavenumber spectra of shear and temperature from scales of 300 m to the viscous and thermal diffusive cutoffs. We study the depth range 50--350 m, which encompasses high-shear layers below and above the core of the EUC and the thermostad, but not the diurnal cycle near the surface. Fine-scale shear dominates over large-scale shear (related to the slowly varying EUC) at 50--170 m and below 270 m, where large-scale gradient Froude numbers (Fr) drop below 1, while large-scale shear dominates in the weakly stratified thermostad at 170--270 m, where Fr>1. We analyze shear fluctuations in different vertical wavenumber bands and pragmatically separate nonturbulent and turbulent fluctuations, the latter being associated with vertical overturning and viscous dissipation. In part of the fine-scale range, shear spectra fall off approximately in inverse proportion to vertical wavenumber. The shear variance in this wavenumber band stays close to the squared buoyancy frequency independent of large-scale shear. At a vertical resolution that resolves turbulent overturning, the Kunze et al. (1990) model of shear instability well predicts average dissipation rates below 100 m. Yet instantaneous high-resolution gradient Froude numbers show virtually no correlation with turbulent dissipation rates. At 20-m vertical resolution, mean dissipation rates from below 50 m and total rms shear Stot are well correlated as &egr;¿~Stot3.5. Fine-scale shear is essential in this relationship. Large-scale gradient Froude numbers and large-scale shear are comparatively poorly correlated with mixing parameters. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1995 |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Oceanography, Physical, Internal and inertial waves, Oceanography, General, Equatorial oceanography, Oceanography, General, Numerical modeling, Oceanography, Physical, Turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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