Internal Waves and Mixing in the Aegean Sea

: Objectives of this research were 1) to compare internal waves and mixing at shallow (100 m) and intermediate (500 m) depths, 2) to relate internal wave variability to changes in local winds, and 3) to observe how internal waves and mixing evolve between the basin and plateau, meaning the deep Cretan Sea and the Cyclidic Plateau. To obtain moored internal wave records of several months we deployed four moorings, three McLane Moored Profilers (MPs) and two ADCPs. Results observed included 1) shallow depths were mostly in the pycnocline and consequently have much larger dissipation rates than weakly stratified deep water, 2) mixing increased with increases in wind stress accompanying the rapid transition from summer to autumnal weather, and 3) internal waves were dominated by the internal tide, apparently generated along the upper part of the slope. Closely confined near the bathymetry, detectable mixing was very weak and intermittent in deeper water.