SeaSoar and Doppler Sonar Spatial Survey of Internal Tide Generation, Surface Boundary Layer Dynamics, and Mixing

Abstract

This research is a component of the Assessing the Effectiveness of Submesoscale Ocean Parameterizations (AESOP) Departmental Research Initiative. Its overall goal is to assess parameterizations in regional models of processes with lateral scales of 100 m-10 km. Our SeaSoar survey will contribute to an improved understanding of two distinct fields, surface boundary layer dynamics and internal tides. Our objectives cover three themes: surface boundary layer dynamics, the decay of submesoscale activity away from the coast, and internal tide generation and dissipation. A coordinated dataset of sufficient resolution and extent will help improve parameterizations for submesoscale processes. Modelling work shows submesoscale fronts and eddies decay away from the coastal upwelling zone, but further observations are needed. Internal tide-driven mixing may substantially increase mixing in the water column away from boundaries and presently tides are not included in most regional models.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2006
Accession Number
ADA612144

Entities

People

  • Daniel L. Rudnick
  • S. Johnston

Organizations

  • University of California Regents

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Distribution Functions
  • Doppler Sonar
  • Dynamics
  • High Resolution
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Microstructure
  • Mixing
  • Probability Distribution Functions
  • Probability Distributions
  • Regions
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Turbulent Mixing
  • Underwater Acoustics

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers