Lagrangian Mapping and Modeling of Thermohaline Intrusions in the Subtropical Front

在整个海洋中都可以观察到温盐侵入，但它们在锋面附近最为突出。热、盐和浮力的横向扩散系数估计与斜压不稳定和中尺度涡旋产生的扩散系数一样大，但是。. .目前的知识不足以有把握地预测温盐带的结构、长度尺度和横向通量（Ruddick和理查兹，2003年）。直到他们的基本结构和现象更好地了解在海上观察，入侵和他们的流量不能在大规模或区域模型中现实地表示。在这项研究中，华盛顿大学的研究人员将对北卡罗来纳州的入侵进行密集的测量和高分辨率的建模。太平洋副热带锋。本研究的目标是确定的长度尺度和斜率的入侵在2D部分和3D模式，有关入侵长度尺度，斜率和结构的前面，并遵循几个入侵的拉格朗日框架周围的一个可命令的中性浮力浮子的演变，并推断其横向通量。 如果可能的话，研究小组将确定产生和修改入侵的过程，并开发高分辨率模型，重现入侵形成和增长的基本方面。像这样的测量和建模的需求早已显而易见，但只是在过去几年中，所有必要的工具才变得可用。这包括具有向上和向下ADCP的深度循环拖曳体、微结构剖面仪和可命令的中性浮力拉格朗日浮子以及灵活的高分辨率数字代码。 虽然不是所有的问题，热盐侵入体可以从这项工作中得到解决，从这项研究中收集的结果将推进我们的了解的结构的侵入体在副热带锋，并提供进一步的洞察力如何一些侵入体的演变。 除了工作的智力价值，这项研究将提供研究生和博士后的支持和培训。

Thermohaline intrusions are observed throughout the ocean, but they are most prominent near fronts. Lateral diffusivities of heat, salt and perhaps buoyancy are estimated to be as large as those produced by baroclinic instabilities and mesoscale eddies, but . . . present knowledge is insufficient to predict the structure, length-scales and lateral fluxes of thermohalines with confidence (Ruddick and Richards, 2003). Until their basic structure and phenomenology are better understood by observations at sea, intrusions and their fluxes cannot be represented realistically in large-scale or regional models. In this study, researchers at the University of Washington will take intensive measurements and perform high-resolution modeling of the intrusions in the N. Pacific subtropical front. The goals of this research are to determine the length scales and slopes of the intrusions in 2D sections and in 3D patterns, relate intrusion length scales, slopes and structures to the front, and follow the evolution of several intrusions in a Lagrangian frame around a commandable neutrally-buoyant float and infer their lateral fluxes. If possible, the team of researchers will identify the processes producing and modifying the intrusions, and develop high-resolution models that reproduce essential aspects of intrusion formation and growth. The need for measurements and modeling like these has long been apparent, but only during the last few years have all of the necessary tools become available. This includes a depth-cycling towed body with upward and downward ADCPs, microstructure profilers, and a commandable neutrally buoyant Lagrangian float, and flexible high-resolution numerical code. Though not all issues regarding thermoahaline intrusions can be solved from this work, the results gathered from this research will advance our understanding of the structure of the intrusions in the subtropical front, and provide further insight into how some of the intrusions evolve. In addition to the intellectual merit of the work, this research will provide the support and training of a graduate students and a postdoc.