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Overturning circulation driven by breaking internal waves in the deep ocean
Citation
Nikurashin, M and Ferrari, R, Overturning circulation driven by breaking internal waves in the deep ocean, Geophysical Research Letters, 40, (12) pp. 3133-3137. ISSN 0094-8276 (2013) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 American Geophysical Union
Abstract
A global estimate of the water-mass transformation by
internal wave-driven mixing in the deep ocean is presented.
The estimate is based on the energy conversion from tidal
and geostrophic motions into internal waves combined with
a turbulent mixing parameterization. We show that internal
wave-driven mixing in the deep ocean can sustain 2030 Sv
of water-mass transformation. One third or more of
this transformation is attributed to lee waves generated
by geostrophic motions flowing over rough topography,
primarily in the Southern Ocean. While these results are
uncertain due to many assumptions, poorly constrained
parameters and data noise that enter in the calculation, the
result that lee wave-driven mixing plays an important role
in the abyssal ocean circulation is likely robust. The
implication is that lee wave-driven mixing should be
represented in ocean and climate models, but currently
it is not. Citation: Nikurashin, M., and R. Ferrari (2013),
Overturning circulation driven by breaking internal waves in the
deep ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, doi:10.1002/grl.50542.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Physical oceanography |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Oceanic processes (excl. in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean) |
UTAS Author: | Nikurashin, M (Dr Maxim Nikurashin) |
ID Code: | 86207 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 101 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2013-08-28 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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