Thermocline Depth and Exchange Fluxes across Circumpolar Fronts

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

Cenedese - 0095427 The role of geostrophic eddies in setting the stratification and meridional transport of a circumpolar current will be explored through experiments in an unique laboratory configuration. Buoyancy flux and mechanical mixing will be allowed to act simultaneously to develop a thermocline and eddies. Preliminary efforts are complete. The portion of buoyancy flux/'stress' parameter space to be investigated includes the Antarctic Circumpolar Current characteristics. Later studies will include a 'cape' to model the effects of Drake Passage and a sloping lid in an effort to model beta plane effects.