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1992•Journal of Geophysical Research AtmospheresRequires access

Vertical diffusivity and overturning length in stably stratified turbulence

J. Weinstock

Open publisher page 20 citations

Abstract

Theoretical expressions are derived in a simple, but approximate, way for variations of vertical diffusivity and overturning length with Froude number, gradient Richardson number, and Reynolds number, in both sheared and unsheared stratified flow. These variations are then compared with observations in laboratories and oceans. For the case of strongly stratified turbulence (Froude number near unity) a previous value of 0.8 for the mixing efficiency is attributed to an incorrect assumption for the numerical value of Lm/LB, the ratio of overturning to buoyancy length, and the efficiency is recalculated by use of recent measurements of that length ratio.

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What this paper is about

Theoretical expressions are derived in a simple, but approximate, way for variations of vertical diffusivity and overturning length with Froude number, gradient Richardson number, and Reynolds number, in both sheared and unsheared stratified flow. These variations are then compared with observations in laboratories and oceans. For the case of strongly stratified turbulence (Froude number near unity) a previous value of 0.8 for the mixing efficiency is attributed to an incorrect assumption for the numerical value of Lm/LB, the ratio of overturning to buoyancy length, and the efficiency is recalculated by use of recent measurements of that length ratio.

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Available abstract

Theoretical expressions are derived in a simple, but approximate, way for variations of vertical diffusivity and overturning length with Froude number, gradient Richardson number, and Reynolds number, in both sheared and unsheared stratified flow. These variations are then compared with observations in laboratories and oceans. For the case of strongly stratified turbulence (Froude number near unity) a previous value of 0.8 for the mixing efficiency is attributed to an incorrect assumption for the numerical value of Lm/LB, the ratio of overturning to buoyancy length, and the efficiency is recalculated by use of recent measurements of that length ratio.

Key concepts: Froude number, Richardson number, Turbulence, Buoyancy, Reynolds number, Stratified flow, Mechanics, Stratified flows

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