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| Titel |
Submesoscale barriers to horizontal mixing in the ocean from current measurements and aerial-photographs |
| VerfasserIn |
H. Gildor, E. Fredj, J. Steinbuck, S. Monismith |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250024986
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Ocean submesoscale (˜2-20 km) mixing processes play a major role in ocean dynamics, in physical-biological
interactions (e.g. in the dispersion of larvae), and in the dispersion of pollutants. We investigate horizontal mixing
on a scale of a few km, from observations of surface currents, using highly resolved (300 m) high-frequency radar.
Our results show the complexity of ocean mixing on scales of a few km and the existence of temporary barriers to
mixing that can affect the dispersion of biological materials and pollutants. These barriers are narrow (O(100m))
and can survive for a few days. The existence of these barriers is verified in simultaneous aerial-photographs. The
barriers observed here may require a new approach to the way horizontal mixing is parameterized in ocean and
climate models. |
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