FN Archimer Export Format
PT J
TI Intensification of upper ocean submesoscale turbulence through Charney baroclinic instability
BT 
AF CAPET, Xavier
   ROULLET, Guillaume
   KLEIN, Patrice
   MAZE, Guillaume
AS 1:1;2:2;3:2;4:3;
FF 1:;2:;3:;4:PDG-ODE-LOPS-OH;
C1 Sorbonne Univ, UPMC, CNRS, IRD,MNHN,LOCEAN, Paris, France.
   Univ Brest, Lab Ocanog Phys & Spatiale, IFREMER, CNRS,IRD,IUEM, Brest, France.
C2 SORBONNE UNIV, FRANCE
   UBO, FRANCE
   IFREMER, FRANCE
SI BREST
SE PDG-ODE-LOPS-OH
UM LOPS
IN WOS Ifremer jusqu'en 2018
   copubli-france
   copubli-univ-france
IF 3.13
TC 33
UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00347/45785/45429.pdf
LA English
DT Article
AB This study focuses on the description of an oceanic variant of the Charney baroclinic instability, arising from the joint presence of i) an equatorward buoyancy gradient that extends from the surface into the ocean interior and ii) reduced subsurface stratification, e.g., as produced by wintertime convection or subduction. We analyze forced-dissipative simulations with and without Charney baroclinic instability (C-BCI). In the former C-BCI strengthens near-surface frontal activity with important consequences in terms of turbulent statistics: increased variance of vertical vorticity and velocity, increased vertical turbulent fluxes. Energetic consequences are explored. Despite the atypical enhancement of submesoscale activity in the simulation subjected to C-BCI and contrary to several recent studies the downscale energy flux at submesoscale en route to dissipation remains modest in the flow energetic equilibration. In particular, it is modest vis a vis the global energy input to the system, the eddy kinetic energy input through conversion of available potential energy, and the classical inverse cascade of kinetic energy. Linear stability analysis suggests that the southern flank of the Gulf Stream may be conducive to oceanic Charney baroclinic instability in spring, following mode water formation and upper ocean destratification.
PY 2016
PD NOV
SO Journal Of Physical Oceanography
SN 0022-3670
PU Amer Meteorological Soc
VL 46
IS 11
UT 000389036600007
BP 3365
EP 3384
DI 10.1175/JPO-D-16-0050.1
ID 45785
ER

EF