SGER: Proposed Proof-of-Concept Measurements of Turbulent Buoyancy Flux Using the Mast

智力优势：这个项目是一项为期一年的研究，目的是用仪表式桅杆测量湍流浮力通量。这些测量将测试是否有可能量化高能量和高度分层的沿海环境中的湍流浮力通量。这项研究将与在梅里马克河口和缅因湾附近水域进行的一项正在进行的研究一起进行。这两个地区的层化程度都很高，控制体积的办法表明，浮力通量比几乎任何其他海洋学制度都大几个数量级。桅杆系统将增加浮力通量的直接估计以及应力的测量和耗散的估计。测量的物理实施和数据的处理存在风险。表面波影响操作的部分原因是重达10米的桅杆改变了船只的反应方式。此外，桅杆运动和波动的干扰可能会掩盖湍流运动的信号。然而，如果该项目成功，可能会在量化沿海和河口海洋的混合方面取得重大突破。更广泛的影响：这项研究将有助于我们理解沿海海洋中的混合，这对污染物和生物地球化学材料的运输和扩散具有影响。此外，这项研究将有助于正在进行的新的PI的实地工作。

Intellectual Merit: This project is a one-year study to measure turbulent buoyancy flux with an instrumented mast. These measurements will test whether it is possible to quantify turbulent buoyancy flux in energetic and highly stratified coastal environments. The study will be conducted in conjunction with an ongoing study in the Merrimack estuary and in the adjacent waters of the Gulf of Maine. In both areas the stratification is high and a control-volume approach has shown that the buoyancy flux is orders of magnitude greater than in almost any other oceanographic regime. The mast system will add direct estimates of buoyancy flux as well as measurements of stress and estimates of dissipation.There are risks associated with the physical implementation of the measurements and in the processing of the data. Surface waves affect operations in part because the heavy 10-meter mast changes how the vessel responds. In addition, the interference of the mast mostion and the wave motion may mask the signal of the turbulent motions. However, if this project is successful, this could provide a significant breakthrough in quantifying mixing in the coastal and estuarine ocean. Broader Impacts: This study will contribute to our understanding of mixing in the coastal ocean, which has implications for the transport and dispersal of pollutants as well as biogeochemical materials. In addition, this study will assist the ongoing field work of a new PI.