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Article Type:
Research Article

Mechanisms of Buoyancy Transport through Mixed Layers and Statistical Signatures from Isobaric Floats

Christophe HerbautLaboratoire d'Oceanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, Paris, France

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John MarshallDepartment of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 2002
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(2002)032<0545:MOBTTM>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
545–557
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Abstract

Idealized nonhydrostatic numerical calculations that resolve both plumes and geostrophic eddies are used to mimic isobaric float observations taken in the Labrador Sea Deep Convection Experiment and study mechanisms of buoyancy transport through mixed layers. The plumes and eddies are generated in a periodic channel, initialized with a vertical profile of temperature, and cooled by surface heat loss varying across the channel. Probability density functions and time series of vertical velocity and temperature computed from the floats are interpreted in terms of the kinematics of plumes and geostrophic eddies, and their role in buoyancy transport. Estimates from Eulerian time series from the numerical model suggest that geostrophic eddies and plumes have a comparable contribution to vertical heat flux.

Corresponding author address: Dr. John Marshall, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 54-1526, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Email: marshall@gulf.mit.edu

Abstract

Idealized nonhydrostatic numerical calculations that resolve both plumes and geostrophic eddies are used to mimic isobaric float observations taken in the Labrador Sea Deep Convection Experiment and study mechanisms of buoyancy transport through mixed layers. The plumes and eddies are generated in a periodic channel, initialized with a vertical profile of temperature, and cooled by surface heat loss varying across the channel. Probability density functions and time series of vertical velocity and temperature computed from the floats are interpreted in terms of the kinematics of plumes and geostrophic eddies, and their role in buoyancy transport. Estimates from Eulerian time series from the numerical model suggest that geostrophic eddies and plumes have a comparable contribution to vertical heat flux.

Corresponding author address: Dr. John Marshall, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 54-1526, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Email: marshall@gulf.mit.edu

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