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Klymak, Jody M.; Shearman, R. Kipp; Gula, Jonathan; Lee, Craig M.; D'Asaro, Eric A.; Thomas, Leif N.; Harcourt, Ramsey R.; Shcherbina, Andrey Y.; Sundermeyer, Miles A.; Molemaker, Jeroen; Mcwilliams, James C.. |
The Gulf Stream is a major conduit of warm surface water from the tropics to the subpolar North Atlantic. Here we observe and simulate a submesoscale (<20km) mechanism by which the Gulf Stream exchanges water with subpolar water to the north. Along isopycnals, the front has a sharp compensated temperature-salinity contrast, with distinct mixed water between the two water masses 2 and 4km wide. This mixed water does not increase downstream despite substantial energy available for mixing. A series of streamers detrain this water at the crest of meanders. Subpolar water replaces the mixed water and resharpens the front. The water mass exchange accounts for a northward flux of salt of 0.5-2.5 psum(2)s(-1), (large-scale diffusivity O (100m(2)s(-1))). This is... |
Tipo: Text |
Palavras-chave: Ocean mixing; Gulf Stream; Submesoscale mixing; Eddies. |
Ano: 2016 |
URL: https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00600/71201/69570.pdf |
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