Premium
Turbulent Mixing in a Loop Current Eddy From Glider‐Based Microstructure Observations
Author(s) -
Molodtsov S.,
Anis A.,
Amon R. M. W.,
PerezBrunius P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl088033
Subject(s) - eddy diffusion , geology , turbulence , glider , dissipation , thermohaline circulation , turbulence kinetic energy , anticyclone , microstructure , eddy current , temperature salinity diagrams , core (optical fiber) , mechanics , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , materials science , climatology , oceanography , physics , salinity , thermodynamics , composite material , quantum mechanics , marine engineering , engineering
Turbulence parameters have been estimated from microstructure velocity and temperature measurements in an anticyclonic Loop Current Eddy in the Gulf of Mexico for the very first time. Measurements were performed during a mission in October 2016, using a G2 Webb Research Slocum ocean glider instrumented with a microstructure sensors suite. Well‐defined turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate patterns in the eddy and the surface mixed layer were clearly identified from both the velocity and temperature microstructure data. Higher dissipation rates were observed at the flanks and beneath the eddy core (up to 10 −7 W/kg), while the core interior appeared to be very quiescent (~10 −11 W/kg). Double diffusive thermohaline intrusions were detected on the side of the eddy, while the region below the eddy core was more conducive for salt fingering. Heat and salt fluxes associated with these processes suggest that a life span of such an eddy is ~1.5 years.