Determining the Stratification of Exchange Flows in Sea Straits

Abstract

Long-Term Goal: Our long-term goal is to contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of the exchange flow and the stratification in the Bab al Mandab and its effect on the general circulation and stratification of the neighboring Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Objectives: We want to determine whether exchange flow through the Bab al Mandab is hydraulically controlled and what the implications are for the stratification in the strait and surrounding waters. Consideration of these questions will involve tides and mixing. We are particularly interested in critical layer mixing near points of hydraulic control and its consequences for the stratification. We further seek to better understand the processes by which the exchange flow is coupled to the circulation in the Red Sea. Such processes undoubtedly depend of rotation. A problem of particular interest is determining how the upper layer approaches the Bab al Mandab from the Red Sea (and how the lower layer enters the Red Sea.)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2001
Accession Number
ADA623866

Entities

People

  • Karl Helfrich
  • Lawrence J. Pratt

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Data Analysis
  • Dynamics
  • Equations
  • Field Conditions
  • Flow
  • Geometry
  • Gravity Waves
  • Hydraulic Models
  • Layers
  • Models
  • Oceanography
  • Physical Oceanography
  • Red Sea
  • Shear Flow
  • Stratification
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Marine Ecotoxicology