Dynamics of an Abyssal Circulation Driven by Bottom-Intensified Mixing on Slopes

(Callies, Jörn and Ferrari, Raffaele), Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol. 48, pp. pages, 2018.

Abstract

AbstractThe large-scale circulation of the abyssal ocean is enabled by small-scale diapycnal mixing, which observations suggest is strongly enhanced towards the ocean bottom, where the breaking of internal tides and lee waves is most vigorous. As discussed recently, bottom-intensified mixing induces a pattern of near-bottom up- and downwelling that is quite different from the traditionally assumed widespread upwelling. Here the consequences of bottom-intensified mixing for the horizontal circulation of the abyssal ocean are explored by considering planetary geostrophic dynamics in an idealized “bathtub geometry.” Up- and downwelling layers develop on bottom slopes as expected, and these layers are well-described by boundary layer theory. The basin-scale circulation is driven by flows in and out of these boundary layers at the base of the sloping topography, which creates primarily zonal currents in the interior and a net meridional exchange along western boundaries. The rate of the net overturning is cont…

doi = 10.1175/JPO-D-17-0125.1

Bibtex

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@article{CalliesFerrari18c, Abstract = {AbstractThe large-scale circulation of the abyssal ocean is enabled by small-scale diapycnal mixing, which observations suggest is strongly enhanced towards the ocean bottom, where the breaking of internal tides and lee waves is most vigorous. As discussed recently, bottom-intensified mixing induces a pattern of near-bottom up- and downwelling that is quite different from the traditionally assumed widespread upwelling. Here the consequences of bottom-intensified mixing for the horizontal circulation of the abyssal ocean are explored by considering planetary geostrophic dynamics in an idealized “bathtub geometry.” Up- and downwelling layers develop on bottom slopes as expected, and these layers are well-described by boundary layer theory. The basin-scale circulation is driven by flows in and out of these boundary layers at the base of the sloping topography, which creates primarily zonal currents in the interior and a net meridional exchange along western boundaries. The rate of the net overturning is cont…}, Author = {Callies, Jörn and Ferrari, Raffaele}, Doi = {10.1175/JPO-D-17-0125.1}, Isbn = {}, Issn = {0022-3670}, Journal = {Journal of Physical Oceanography}, Keywords = {}, Pages = {1257–1282}, Title = {{Dynamics of an Abyssal Circulation Driven by Bottom-Intensified Mixing on Slopes}}, Volume = {48}, Year = {2018}, Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/10.1175/JPO-D-17-0125.1} , Bdsk-Url-2 = {https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-17-0125.1}}