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| Titel |
On the variability of diapycnal mixing in the equatorial Atlantic ocean |
| VerfasserIn |
Rebecca Hummels, Marcus Dengler, Bernard Bourlès |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2011
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 13 (2011) |
| Datensatznummer |
250046306
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Sea surface temperatures (SST’s) in the equatorial Atlantic are crucial for the positioning of
the intertropical convergence zone and hence influence rainfall patterns in sensitive
regions of the adjacent continents. A robust feature of the SST’s seasonal cycle is the
equatorial cold tongue. The exact mechanisms driving this pattern remain unclear
and the role of diapycnal mixing as a contributor to the mixed layer heat budget
is still variously discussed. Microstructure measurements are in general sparse,
in the tropical Atlantic nearly non-existent. We present our recent microstructure
measurements data set consisting of 7 cruises (2005-2007), which have occupied
several sections repeatedly within the cold tongue area during its onset/full extent
(early summer), just after its peak (September) and its retraction phase (November).
Averaged mixing parameters below the mixed layer depth are compared. Regional as
well as seasonal variability is observed with highest diapycnal heat fluxes in early
summer of up to 90 W2-
m and reduced values of 10-40 -W2
m towards the end of the
year. The importance of the observed diapycnal heat fluxes for the mixed layer heat
budget is discussed as well as possible processes leading to the observed variability. |
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