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Detailed Reference Information |
van Haren, H. (2007). Shear at the critical diurnal latitude. Geophysical Research Letters 34: doi: 10.1029/2006GL028716. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Around latitudes ∣$varphi$∣ ≈ 300 where diurnal D1 equals the local inertial frequency f = 2Ωsin$varphi$, Ω denoting the Earth's rotational vector, several mechanisms can enhance shear at f due to a reduction in vertical scales. This would imply locally enhanced deep-ocean mixing. Here, recent 1.5 years of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) observations from the Canary Basin demonstrate largest kinetic energy at semidiurnal tides (D2), but a complete absence of D2-shear. Instead, shear is peaking at subinertial 0.97 1 0.01f and terdiurnal 3f(≈D2 + f ≈ D3 here), and vertical scales Δz(f) < 0.1Δz(D2). However, the f-band is broader than deterministic tidal frequencies and the smallest vertical scales, organizing shear in thin layers, are found at the lower inertio-gravity wave limit, which equals 0.97f for the weakest stratification observed (N = 6f, using Δz = 10 m). Hence, besides possibly subharmonic resonance, other mechanisms must be involved in enhancing f-shear, including non-linear harmonic interactions and wave trapping at the critical latitude's poleward shift. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Oceanography, Physical, Internal and inertial waves, Oceanography, Physical, Coriolis effects, Oceanography, Physical, Ocean influence of Earth rotation, 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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