Measuring Vortex Force and Turbulence Fluxes in the Oceanic Surface Boundary Layer

0002331本研究的目的是使用一种新的仪器，电磁涡度仪，直接测量流动涡量，它与与表面波有关的斯托克斯漂移相结合，产生“涡旋力”，通过对混合层(朗缪尔池)中的滚动涡的理论解释，确定涡旋力是造成这些涡流的主要原因。另一个目标是确定涡度的哪个分量，垂直的还是水平的，对朗缪尔环流的形成最关键，从而区分相互竞争的理论。涡度测量将辅之以温度、盐度和湍流参数的观测。虽然朗缪尔盒的理论已经存在很长时间了，但由于难以直接测量混合层中的涡度，其中心假设一直缺乏现场观测的直接验证。这项研究提供了进行此类测量的可能性。更好地了解朗缪尔环流将有助于海洋学家绘制出更清晰的海洋上层几米混合的图像，并可能导致在海洋和气候的计算机模型中改进对这种混合的表示。

0002331 Lien/UWThe intent of this study is to use a novel instrument, the Electromagnetic Vorticity Meter, to directly measure the flow vorticity which, in combination with the Stokes drift associated with the surface waves, gives rise to the "vortex force," identified by theoretical explanations of roll vortices in the mixed layer (Langmuir cells) as the primary cause of these vortices. An additional objective is to determine which component of vorticity, vertical or horizontal, is most critical for Langmuir cell formation and hence distinguish between competing theories. The vorticity measurements will be supplemented with observations of temperature, salinity and turbulence parameters. While theories of Langmuir cells have existed for a long time, direct verification of their central hypotheses with field observations has been lacking because of the difficulty of directly measuring vorticity in the mixed layer. This study holds out the possibility of being able to make such measurements. A better understanding of Langmuir cells will help oceanographers develop a clearer picture of mixing in the upper few meters of the ocean and may lead to improved representations of such mixing in computer models of oceans and climate.