Internal Waves and Mixing in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

Objectives of this research were 1) to compare internal waves and mixing at shallow (100 m) and intermediate (500 m) depths, 2) to relate internal wave variability to changes in local winds, and 3) to observe how internal waves and mixing evolve between the basin and plateau, meaning the deep Cretan Sea and the Cyclidic Plateau. To obtain moored internal wave records of several months we deployed four moorings, three McLane Moored Profilers (MPs) and two ADCPs. Results observed included 1) shallow depths were mostly in the pycnocline and consequently have much larger dissipation rates than weakly stratified deep water, 2) mixing increased with increases in wind stress accompanying the rapid transition from summer to autumnal weather, and 3) internal waves were dominated by the internal tide, apparently generated along the upper part of the slope. Closely confined near the bathymetry, detectable mixing was very weak and intermittent in deeper water.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 09, 2010
Accession Number
ADA518725

Entities

People

  • Matthew H. Alford
  • Michael C. Gregg

Organizations

  • University of Washington

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aegean Sea
  • Air Temperature
  • Bathymetry
  • Deep Water
  • Depth
  • Dissipation
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Instructions
  • Internal Waves
  • Layers
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Shallow Depth
  • Stresses
  • Surface Temperature
  • Water
  • Wind Stress

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Oceanography.