Three-Dimensional Evolution of Intrusions

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

0095382/Alford This project involves the study of thermohaline intrusions in Puget Sound. The study seeks to determine the relative contribution, to heat and salt fluxes at the edges of the intrusion, of shear-generated turbulence and doubly diffusive processes. The work will involve a two-ship survey of an intrusion within the Sound and subsequent data analysis. It is anticipated that the work will provide information about a basic question in geophysical fluid dynamics, the way in which two distinct processes, shear turbulence and double diffusion, contribute to small scale mixing when both are present. The work will also provide information on the structure and evolution of a type of feature, a thermohaline intrusion, known to be present in many oceanic situations, particularly near thermohaline fronts, but not yet well studied. Last, the work will evaluate an experimental approach for possible future use in the study of thermohaline intrusions in a more oceanic setting.