Quantification of Dissipation & Mixing over 3D Topography from a Distributed Network of Chipods
Abstract
ABSTRACT ONRBAA-?15-?001 Quantification of Dissipation & Mixing over 3D Topography from a Distributed Network of Chipods A proposal for the FLEAT DRI Jonathan D. Nash & James N. Moum College of Earth, Ocean & Atmos. Sciences 541-737-4573 nash@coas.oregonstate.edu 541-737-2553 moum@coas.oregonstate.edu Overview: Topographic lee waves and 3D eddies extract energy from large scale, low frequency currents. Two fundamental processes contribute: 1) horizontal pressure gradients across topographic features produce a “form drag” on the flow above, and generate both a radiated and trapped response; and 2) work done by the bottom on the overlying flow creates turbulent dissipation that acts as “skin friction,” which increases the system potential energy by extracting mean flow kinetic energy. These processes can be measured and reliably quantified, in part through developments made by us over the past decade. Both theory (Nikurashin and Ferrari, 2011) and observational inferences (Whalen et al, 2013) provide evidence for enhanced turbulence in the vicinity of the West Mariana Ridge. We anticipate these dynamics to be an open-?ocean analog to the 3D processes we have explored at Three Tree Point, Stonewall Bank and Luzon Strait. Here we propose to deploy a network of 17 ?pods on multiple instrument platforms to quantify the turbulent response and elucidate these dynamics around island topography and over deep-?ocean ridges. Included also is an option to deploy a spatial array of 6 bottom-? mounted p-?pods to directly quantify form drag and to determine the pressure field associated with topographically generated eddies in the lee of Palau.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512302
Entities
People
- Jonathan Douglas Nash
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Oregon State University
- United States Navy