Analysis of regional and global patterns of upper ocean spice and implications for acoustics
Abstract
In many parts of the global ocean density compensated temperature (T) and salinity (S) anomalies, known as ocean spice, play a subst antial role in modulating and sometimes creating upper ocean acoustic ducts. This is because density compensating T and S anomalies are reenforcing in sound speed. The unique spatial and temporal structure of upper ocean spice patterns are set by a balance between three-dimensional subduction, especially near ocean fronts, lateral stirring, and turbulent mixing. Several ONR funded experiments over the last decade have involved exploration of the detailed subduction, stirring and mixing processes in particular parts of the world, ranging from the North Atlantic to the Arctic to the Bay of Bengal to the West Pacific. Here we propose dedicated analysis, l ed by postdoc Sanchez-Rios, to i) leverage a decade of data in hand to compare and contrast dynamical insights associated with spice creation and destruction from distinct dynamical regimes/geographies, ii) use the global Argo dataset to extrapolate those insights and regime distinctions, based upon statistics of lateral and vertical spice gradients on acoustically relevant scales, and iii) as sess global spice hotspots and consider the acoustic implications, collaboratively with Dr. Colosi and his Task Force Ocean postdoc Edward Richards.This abstract is publicly releasable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112752
Entities
People
- Jennifer MacKinnon
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego