Lateral transport in the ocean interior

B. Fox-Kemper, R. Lumpkin, F. O. Bryan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dominant processes leading to lateral transport by the general ocean circulation are reviewed. The general circulation is distinguished from a theoretical steady flow by the effects of mesoscale eddies. The general circulation flow may be averaged over the scale of the eddies, but averaging does not eliminate correlations among eddy variables. The present state of understanding of the transport by these eddy correlations, and how they are parameterized in models, is discussed in some detail. Satellite, drifter, and model estimates of eddy statistics are compared. Particular emphasis is placed on the direction, heterogeneity, and anisotropy of eddy-induced diffusion, advection, and transport.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Geophysics
PublisherAcademic Press
Pages185-209
Number of pages25
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Publication series

NameInternational Geophysics
Volume103
ISSN (Print)0074-6142

Keywords

  • Advection
  • Diffusion
  • Eddies
  • General circulation
  • Parameterization
  • Transport

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