FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES
This study explores the dynamics of diffusive convection, which is realized in regions where cool and fresh water-masses rest on top of those that are warm and salty. This type of convection is often observed in the Arctic Ocean and is characterized by the development of fine-scale steps in vertical...
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Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
2021
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ftnavalpschool:oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/67094 2024-06-09T07:43:17+00:00 FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES Ainslie, Kristen Radko, Timour Oceanography (OC) Brown, Justin M. 2021-03 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10945/67094 unknown Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School 525, Undersea Warfare 34693 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/67094 This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. Thermohaline staircase shear double diffusion Arctic Ocean vertical shear heat transfer internal waves convection Thesis 2021 ftnavalpschool 2024-05-15T00:11:22Z This study explores the dynamics of diffusive convection, which is realized in regions where cool and fresh water-masses rest on top of those that are warm and salty. This type of convection is often observed in the Arctic Ocean and is characterized by the development of fine-scale steps in vertical salinity and temperature profiles known as thermohaline staircases. The Arctic staircases control the rate of upward heat transfer from waters of Atlantic origin, thereby influencing the melting of sea-ice and the polar climate in general. This thesis aims to utilize numerical modeling to define conditions that are favorable or unfavorable for creating thermohaline staircases and provide an explanation as to why they are not constantly prevalent throughout the Arctic. In particular, the presented high-resolution simulations explore the role of vertical shear associated with internal waves that are ubiquitous in the World Ocean. While previous investigations suggested that that the vertical shear could adversely affect staircases, this effect has not been quantified and physical mechanisms at play are still poorly understood. The present study addresses these unresolved problems in the theory of double-diffusive convection, concurrently shedding light on the mechanics of heat transfer in high-latitude oceans. Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited Lieutenant, United States Navy Thesis Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun Arctic Arctic Ocean |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun |
op_collection_id |
ftnavalpschool |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Thermohaline staircase shear double diffusion Arctic Ocean vertical shear heat transfer internal waves convection |
spellingShingle |
Thermohaline staircase shear double diffusion Arctic Ocean vertical shear heat transfer internal waves convection Ainslie, Kristen FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
topic_facet |
Thermohaline staircase shear double diffusion Arctic Ocean vertical shear heat transfer internal waves convection |
description |
This study explores the dynamics of diffusive convection, which is realized in regions where cool and fresh water-masses rest on top of those that are warm and salty. This type of convection is often observed in the Arctic Ocean and is characterized by the development of fine-scale steps in vertical salinity and temperature profiles known as thermohaline staircases. The Arctic staircases control the rate of upward heat transfer from waters of Atlantic origin, thereby influencing the melting of sea-ice and the polar climate in general. This thesis aims to utilize numerical modeling to define conditions that are favorable or unfavorable for creating thermohaline staircases and provide an explanation as to why they are not constantly prevalent throughout the Arctic. In particular, the presented high-resolution simulations explore the role of vertical shear associated with internal waves that are ubiquitous in the World Ocean. While previous investigations suggested that that the vertical shear could adversely affect staircases, this effect has not been quantified and physical mechanisms at play are still poorly understood. The present study addresses these unresolved problems in the theory of double-diffusive convection, concurrently shedding light on the mechanics of heat transfer in high-latitude oceans. Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited Lieutenant, United States Navy |
author2 |
Radko, Timour Oceanography (OC) Brown, Justin M. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Ainslie, Kristen |
author_facet |
Ainslie, Kristen |
author_sort |
Ainslie, Kristen |
title |
FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
title_short |
FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
title_full |
FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
title_fullStr |
FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
title_full_unstemmed |
FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ARCTIC THERMOHALINE STAIRCASES |
title_sort |
formation and destruction of arctic thermohaline staircases |
publisher |
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/67094 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Sea ice |
op_relation |
525, Undersea Warfare 34693 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/67094 |
op_rights |
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. |
_version_ |
1801372044914327552 |