Studies of Lateral Dispersion in the Ocean
Abstract
Tracer-and float-release studies from the North Atlantic Tracer Release Experiment (NATRE) and from the Coastal Mixing and Optics (CMO) dye studies are used to examine rates and mechanisms of lateral dispersion in the ocean. In Part I of this thesis, dispersion rates in the open ocean due to mesoscale stirring are estimated from Lagrangian floats released as part of NATRE. At scales ranging from 1-10 km up to 1000 km these rates are shown to agree with the theoretical model of Garrett (1983) for mixing and stirring by the mesoscale strain field. In Part II, lateral dispersion on scales of a few hundred meters to 10 km is examined using the CMO dye experiments. It is shown that the existing paradigms of lateral dispersion by vertical shear dispersion, lateral intrusions of differing water-masses, and diffusive interleaving cannot explain the observed dispersion based on dye experiments. An alternative mechanism, dispersion by vortical motions - caused by the relaxation of diapycnal mixing events, is shown to be consistent with the observations and at least in some cases may explain the observed dispersion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA363503
Entities
People
- Miles A. Sundermeyer
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution