|
|
ReportsEnhanced Diapycnal Mixing by Salt Fingers in the Thermocline of the Tropical Atlantic
Diapycnal mixing plays a significant role in the ocean's circulation and uptake of heat and carbon dioxide, but has not been quantified in salt finger–driven thermohaline staircases. We recently performed a tracer release experiment in the western tropical Atlantic staircase at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rschmitt{at}whoi.edu
The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:In Science Magazine
|
400 m depth. The observed dispersion implies an effective diapycnal diffusivity for tracer and salt of 0.8 to 0.9 x 10–4 m2/s. Temperature microstructure data interpreted in terms of a vertical production-dissipation balance yields a smaller effective diffusivity for heat of 0.45 (± 0.2) x 10–4 m2/s, consistent with salt fingers and well above the mixing ascribable to mechanical turbulence. 
Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)
Magazine | News | Signaling | Careers | Multimedia | Collections | Help | Site Map | RSS
Subscribe | Feedback | Privacy / Legal | About Us | Advertise With Us | Contact Us
© 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.
AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, PatientInform, CrossRef, and COUNTER.
You have reached the bottom of the page. Back to top