Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2004
DOI
10.1029/2003JC001969
Publication Title
Journal of Geophysical Research C: Oceans
Volume
109
Issue
5
Pages
1-13
Abstract
A two-dimensional numerical model is used to study the diapycnal flow through a tidal front with passive tracers. In a basic numerical experiment a passive tracer is released into the bottom water at the offshore edge of a tidal front, and it subsequently moves on-bank with a velocity that decreases with time. This qualitatively agrees with a recent field experiment using a dye tracer on Georges Bank. Additional experiments are performed to investigate the sensitivity of the tracer dispersion to the tidal phase and the location of tracer release within the front. As the release point is moved on-bank across the front, the tracer velocity decreases until it weakly reverses on the on-bank edge of the front. This trend can be understood by considering the structure of the Lagrangian velocity field in the tidal front, the degree of vertical mixing of the tracer, and the concentration-weighted mean patch velocity. The tidal phase at the time of tracer release does not significantly affect the tracer dispersion.
Original Publication Citation
Dong, C., Houghton, R., Ou, H.W., Chen, D., & Ezer, T. (2004). Numerical study of the diapycnal flow through a tidal front with passive tracers. Journal of Geophysical Research C: Oceans, 109(5), 1-13. doi: 10.1029/2003JC001969
Repository Citation
Dong, Chingming; Houghton, Robert; Ou, Hsien-Wang; Chen, Dake; and Ezer, Tal, "Numerical Study of the Diapycnal Flow Through a Tidal Front With Passive Tracers" (2004). CCPO Publications. 130.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/ccpo_pubs/130
ORCID
0000-0002-2018-6071 (Ezer)