Effects of variations in eddy diffusivity on property distributions in the oceans
Citable URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1912/10336DOI
10.1575/1912/10336Keyword
Eddies; OceanographyAbstract
The hypothesis that variations in eddy diffusivity may be responsible for some of the observed
distributions of oceanic scalars is explored. A gradient in eddy diffusivity affects property distributions
much as would an additional velocity field from regions of high to low eddy diffusivity.
In support of such an interpretation, the cross-isopycnal distribution of density is compared
with an eddy diffusivity prescribed by the combination of boundary mixing and isopycnal exchange.
Since the surface area available for boundary mixing varies with depth, similar variations
are reflected in property distributions. For isopycnal distributions, an eddy diffusivity
field inferred from the eddy potential energy field description of Dantzler (1977) is compared
with the salinity distribution from the Mediterranean Outflow.
Description
Also published as: Journal of
Marine Research 37 (1979): 515-529