Shear microstructure and towed body measurements of internal waves and turbulence in the Beaufort Sea
Abstract
We propose to conduct ship based microstructure measurements with out Modular Microstructure Profiler (MMP) and Shallow Water Integrated Mapping Systems (SWIMS-II) to directly measure turbulent heat fluxes in the Arctic ocean interior, which are necessary for accurate estimates of air-sea exchange and future ice cover. Our recent NSF/OPP-funded measurements aboard R/V Sikuliaq suggest that elevated turbulence in the Beaufort occurs, moving from top to bottom: i)extremely strongly at the base of the surface mixed layer; ii) above and below thermocline eddies; iii) where near-inertial waves (NIW) are breaking and; iv) in submarine canyons and near rough topography. We propose a set of height-resolution shipboard process studies to understand these processes, their relative importance, and how their resultant flux divergence impacts upper-ocean stratification in the emerging Arctic.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 08, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612360
Entities
People
- Harper L. Simmons
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Alaska Fairbanks