Abstract
A 3°N to 3°S transect of the equator at 140°15'W was made in November 1984. Vertical profiles of temperature, conductivity and turbulent dissipation were obtained at approximately 1 km intervals. Contrary to previous results, we found no obvious peak in dissipation either at the equator or clearly associated with the Equatorial Undercurrent. A thermistor chain towed behind the ship indicated the rich (and previously unseen) variability of the hydrophysical field of the equatorial ocean. Some of this variability (especially, internal waves) is intimately linked to mixing processes.
