Collaborative Research: Mixing in the Equatorial Thermocline (MIXET)

该项目是对赤道太平洋小垂直尺度速度结构（SVSs）的观测和模拟相结合的研究。这些pi有很强的资质，先前的成就，并设计了一个全面的现场实验和数值过程研究来实现他们的目标。观测将使用一系列系泊装置和在系泊线上移动的剖面传感器，并在两次巡航期间部署仪器来测量海洋结构、洋流和微观结构湍流。数值模拟将用于测试风强迫、剪切不稳定性和内部重力波不稳定性对svs形成的影响。该项目在研究主题和观测与建模之间的协同作用方面具有很强的智力价值。智力优势：气候预测的稳健性取决于大气和海洋模型在捕捉问题的基本物理特性方面的有效性。耦合的海洋/大气系统和海洋混合之间的强烈关系意味着混合必须是正确的。例如，通过NIO传播将温跃层混合与风变率联系起来提出了尺度？相互作用产生显著反馈ENSO和小？混合比例。这项工作有可能对控制赤道海洋中热量和动量混合的过程产生革命性的结果，这与试图模拟和预测气候变化有关。该提案包括培训和指导一名研究生。学生将获得将观察和模型联系起来的技能，这对于提高社会相关科学中使用的模型的可靠性至关重要。外联活动将包括：建立一个网站，宣传项目背后的科学和结果，将结果纳入项目负责人的课程，并邀请当地一名高中教师参加一次或多次巡游。总的来说，这个项目是一个大胆而全面的方法来研究人们知之甚少的海洋特征，对海洋学和气候有着广泛的影响。

The project is a combined observational and modeling study of small-vertical-scale velocity structures (SVSs) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The PIs have very strong credentials, prior accomplishments , and have designed a comprehensive field experiment and numerical process studies to achieve their goals. The observations will be made using an array of moorings with profiling sensors that move on the mooring lines, and instrument deployments during two cruises to measure ocean structure, currents, and microstructure turbulence. Numerical modeling will be used to test the formation of SVSs by wind forcing, shear instability, and instabilities of internal gravity waves. The project has strong intellectual merit in both the topic of study and the synergy between observations and modeling.Intellectual Merit: The robustness of climate predictions depends on the effectiveness of atmosphere and ocean models to capture the essential physics of the problem. The strong relationship between the coupled ocean/atmosphere system and ocean mixing means that mixing has to be right. For instance, the linking of thermocline mixing to wind variability through NIO propagation raises the possibility of scale?interactions producing significant feedbacks between ENSO and small?scale mixing. The work has the potential to yield transformative results on the processes that control the mixing of heat and momentum in the equatorial oceans, which is pertinent to attempts to model and predict changes in climate. The proposal includes the training and mentorship of a graduate student. The student will gain skills in linking observations and models which are vitally important in improving the reliability of models used in societally relevant science. Outreach activities will include: a web site publicizing the science behind the project and results, the inclusion of results in courses given by the PIs, and an invitation to a local high school teacher to participate in one or more cruises. Overall this project is a bold and comprehensive approach to studying poorly understood oceanic features with wide ranging implications for oceanography and climate.