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Article: Convectively Driven Mixing in the Bottom Boundary Layer
- Article from:
- Journal of Physical Oceanography
- Article date:
- October 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Meteorological Society Oct 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT
Closely spaced vertical profiles through the bottom boundary layer over a sloping continental shelf during relaxation from coastal upwelling reveal structure that is consistent with convectively driven mixing. Parcels of fluid were observed adjacent to the bottom that were warm (by several millikelvin) relative to fluid immediately above. On average, the vertical gradient of potential temperature in the superadiabatic (statically unstable) bottom layer was found to be -1.7 Ã 10^sup -4^ K m^sup -1^, or 6.0 Ã 10^sup -5^ kg m^sup -4^ in potential density. Turbulent dissipation rates (ε) increased toward the bottom but were relatively constant over the dimensionless depth range ...