Meridional buoyancy transport by baroclinic turbulence

Abstract: Baroclinic instability of zonal ocean currents like the Antarctic Circumpolar Current induces a turbulent flow that redistributes buoyancy across the current. The small scales of the turbulent flow are hardly resolved in global climate models, which calls for a physically-based parameterization of the turbulent transport. Based on a hierarchy of idealized models, I will report on a recent scaling theory for the magnitude of the meridional buoyancy flux, before discussing the three-dimensional structure of eddy-induced buoyancy transport. The theory leads to a quantitative parameterization providing the meridional temperature profile in terms of the externally imposed wind stress in an idealized model of a zonal ocean current.

About this Series: The Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Sack Lunch Seminar Series is an informal seminar series within PAOC that focuses on more specialized topics than the PAOC Colloquium. Seminar topics include all research concerning the science of atmosphere, ocean and climate. The seminars usually take place on Wednesdays from 12-1pm in 54-915. The presentations are either given by an invited speaker or by a member of PAOC and can focus on new research or discussion of a paper of particular interest.

Contact: sacklunch-committee@mit.edu for Zoom information