Double Diffusive Interleaving Across a Thermohaline Front
Abstract
A model of double diffusively driven interleaving layers across a thermohaline, barotropic front is developed. The mechanism of the interleaving was proposed by Stern (1967) for small perturbations of continuous, large scale T-S gradients in the saltfingering regime by double diffusive interleaving. The model shows that this mechanism is also effective for interleaving across an initially sharp front, after strong T-S inversions develop between intrusions, in regions in which the mean vertical gradients are in the saltfingering, diffusive, or doubly stable regimes. The vertical scale of the intrusions increases with increasing cross-frontal T-S discontinuities, and decreases with increasing mean vertical density gradients. The cross-frontal fluxes caused by the finescale interleaving can be substantial, and the vertical finescale fluxes can be up gradient. Sensitivity studies are performed to study the effects of the mean gradients, microscale flux parameters, and intrusion thickness and tilt on the interleaving T-S signature, velocity and length. (jhd)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 30, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA224822
Entities
People
- Eric S. Posmentier
Organizations
- Long Island University