Variability of the Subtropical Front in
the Indian Ocean south of Australia |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">M?TomczakEmail author L?Pender S?Liefrink |
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Institution: | (1) Flinders University, School of Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences, 6PO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5048, Australia;(2) CSIRO, Marine Research, 6PO Box 1538, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia |
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Abstract: | A detailed high resolution survey of a small region (68 ×
68 km) of the Subtropical Front south of Australia over a period of 14 days is
used to study the interaction between the mixed layer and the permanent frontal
structure underneath during summer conditions. The front extends through the
mixed layer as a salinity front, while its temperature structure is modified by
seasonal warming. Wind-driven movement of the mixed layer combines with the
short-time development of indentations and filaments in the front to produce
some degree of decoupling between the mixed layer and the underlying structure,
and the front is not always found at the same location in and below the mixed
layer. Intrusions and parcels of distinct water properties are found just below
the mixed layer, produced as a result of the relative movement of the front in
and below the mixed layer. These parcels are typically 10 km in width and 10–50
m in depth. Successive surveys of the front with a time separation of 2 days
showed that these features persist over at least 1 week. Large scale surveys of
the front show that parcels are ubiquitous along the Subtropical Front over a
distance of several hundred kilometres. The results suggest that any study
aimed at understanding the intricate interaction between the mixed layer and
the layers below in oceanic fronts will have to address wind-driven dynamics
and frontal dynamics together.This revised version was published online February
2005 with corrections to figures. Unfortunately the figures were reproduced in
black and white and in the new version they are in color. |
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Keywords: | Front Mixing South Indian Ocean |
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