Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection
Abstract Turbulent vertical velocity measurements are scarce in regions prone to convection such as the Labrador Sea, which hinders our understanding of deep convection dynamics. Vertical velocity, w, is retrieved from wintertime glider deployments in the convective region. From w, downward convecti...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110318 |
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| author | L. Clément L. Merckelbach E. Frajka‐Williams |
| author_facet | L. Clément L. Merckelbach E. Frajka‐Williams |
| author_sort | L. Clément |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Turbulent vertical velocity measurements are scarce in regions prone to convection such as the Labrador Sea, which hinders our understanding of deep convection dynamics. Vertical velocity, w, is retrieved from wintertime glider deployments in the convective region. From w, downward convective plumes of dense waters are identified. These plumes only cover a small fraction of the convective area. Throughout the convective area, the standard deviation of w agrees with scaling relations for the atmospheric surface and boundary layers. It initially depends on surface buoyancy loss in winter, and later, on wind stress after mid‐March. Both periods are characterized by positive turbulent vertical buoyancy flux. During convective periods in winter, the positive buoyancy flux is mostly forced by surface heat loss. After mid‐March, when buoyancy loss to the atmosphere is reduced, the positive buoyancy flux results from a restratifying upward freshwater flux, potentially of lateral origins and without much atmospheric influence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cdb6bbafdb7548f9b06874183c95cfb2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-cdb6bbafdb7548f9b06874183c95cfb22025-08-20T03:16:26ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-11-015121n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110318Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea ConvectionL. Clément0L. Merckelbach1E. Frajka‐Williams2National Oceanography Centre Southampton UKInstitute of Coastal Research Helmholtz‐Zentrum Hereon Geesthacht GermanyUniversität Hamburg Hamburg GermanyAbstract Turbulent vertical velocity measurements are scarce in regions prone to convection such as the Labrador Sea, which hinders our understanding of deep convection dynamics. Vertical velocity, w, is retrieved from wintertime glider deployments in the convective region. From w, downward convective plumes of dense waters are identified. These plumes only cover a small fraction of the convective area. Throughout the convective area, the standard deviation of w agrees with scaling relations for the atmospheric surface and boundary layers. It initially depends on surface buoyancy loss in winter, and later, on wind stress after mid‐March. Both periods are characterized by positive turbulent vertical buoyancy flux. During convective periods in winter, the positive buoyancy flux is mostly forced by surface heat loss. After mid‐March, when buoyancy loss to the atmosphere is reduced, the positive buoyancy flux results from a restratifying upward freshwater flux, potentially of lateral origins and without much atmospheric influence.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110318oceanic convectionplumesvertical velocityboundary layer scalingsbuoyancy fluxes |
| spellingShingle | L. Clément L. Merckelbach E. Frajka‐Williams Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection Geophysical Research Letters oceanic convection plumes vertical velocity boundary layer scalings buoyancy fluxes |
| title | Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection |
| title_full | Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection |
| title_fullStr | Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection |
| title_short | Turbulent Vertical Velocities in Labrador Sea Convection |
| title_sort | turbulent vertical velocities in labrador sea convection |
| topic | oceanic convection plumes vertical velocity boundary layer scalings buoyancy fluxes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110318 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lclement turbulentverticalvelocitiesinlabradorseaconvection AT lmerckelbach turbulentverticalvelocitiesinlabradorseaconvection AT efrajkawilliams turbulentverticalvelocitiesinlabradorseaconvection |