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McWilliams JC. Submesoscale currents in the ocean. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2016;472(2189):20160117doi: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0117.
McWilliams, J. C. (2016). Submesoscale currents in the ocean. Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 472(2189), 20160117. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2016.0117
McWilliams, James C. "Submesoscale currents in the ocean." Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences vol. 472,2189 (2016): 20160117. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2016.0117
McWilliams JC. Submesoscale currents in the ocean. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2016 May;472(2189):20160117. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0117. PMID: 27279778; PMCID: PMC4893189.
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Proc Math Phys Eng Sci. 2016 May;472(2189):20160117. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0117.

Submesoscale currents in the ocean.

Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences

James C McWilliams

Affiliations

  1. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences , University of California , Los Angeles, CA 90095-1565, USA.

PMID: 27279778 PMCID: PMC4893189 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0117

Abstract

This article is a perspective on the recently discovered realm of submesoscale currents in the ocean. They are intermediate-scale flow structures in the form of density fronts and filaments, topographic wakes and persistent coherent vortices at the surface and throughout the interior. They are created from mesoscale eddies and strong currents, and they provide a dynamical conduit for energy transfer towards microscale dissipation and diapycnal mixing. Consideration is given to their generation mechanisms, instabilities, life cycles, disruption of approximately diagnostic force balance (e.g. geostrophy), turbulent cascades, internal-wave interactions, and transport and dispersion of materials. At a fundamental level, more questions remain than answers, implicating a programme for further research.

Keywords: frontogenesis; instability; submesoscale; turbulence

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