On diapycnal mixing induced by internal tidal waves in the Arctic Ocean |
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Authors: | B A Kagan E V Sofina A A Timofeev |
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Institution: | 1.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, St. Petersburg Branch,Russian Academy of Sciences,St. Petersburg,Russia |
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Abstract: | In order to reproduce the diapycnal mixing induced by internal tidal waves (ITWs) in the Arctic Ocean, we use a modified version
of the three-dimensional finite-element hydrothermodynamic model QUODDY-4. We found that the average (over the tidal cycle)
and integral (by depth) baroclinic tidal energy dissipation rate in individual areas of the Siberian continental shelf and
in the straits between the Canadian Arctic archipelago are much higher than in the open ocean and its values on ridges and
troughs are qualitatively similar to one another. Moreover, in the area of open-ocean ridges, the baroclinic tidal energy
dissipation rate increases as it approaches the bottom, but only in the bottom boundary layer; on the Mid-Atlantic and Hawaii
ridges, such an increase is observed within a few hundreds of meters away from the bottom. The average (in area and depth
of the open ocean) coefficient of diapycnal mixing defined by the baroclinic tidal energy dissipation rate is higher than
the coefficient of molecular kinematic viscosity and only a few times lower than the canonical value of the coefficient of
vertical turbulent viscosity, which is used in models of global oceanic circulation. Coupled with the reasoning on the localization
of baroclinic tidal energy dissipation, this fact leads to the conclusion that disregarding the contribution that ITW-induced
diapycnal mixing makes to the ocean-climate formation is hardly justified. |
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