Intrusions: What drives them?
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-1999
Abstract
The driving mechanism for the observed interleaving of water masses is generally assumed to be double-diffusive mixing. However, some observations of intrusions have been made in regions where the mean stratification is stable to double-diffusive mixing. It has been hypothesized that a finite amplitude disturbance must occur to produce regions where the stratification allows double-diffusive mixing or that an instability due to differences in the molecular diffusivity of salinity and temperature produces the desired stratification for double-diffusive mixing to start. There is also the possibility of a differential vertical flux of salt and heat due to incomplete mixing by turbulence. The basis of this idea is described in this paper. Growth rates, vertical scales, and cross-frontal slopes of intrusions predicted by this process are compared to those predicted by double-diffusive mixing.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Volume
29
Issue
6
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Hebert, Dave. "Intrusions: What drives them?." Journal of Physical Oceanography 29, 6 (1999). doi: 10.1175/1520-0485(1999)029<1382:IWDT>2.0.CO;2.