Diapycnal eddy diffusivity

From Atomix


Short definition of Diapycnal eddy diffusivity (Diapycnal eddy diffusivity Kρ)
Diapycnal eddy diffusivity (for buoyancy) is defined from the buoyancy flux w′ρ′‾ and the background density gradient ∂ρ∂z

This is the common definition for Diapycnal eddy diffusivity, but other definitions may be discussed within the wiki.



Osborn 1980[1] showed that the buoyancy eddy diffusivity Kρ=w′ρ′¯∂ρ/∂z could be reduced to Kρ=ΓϵN−2 via the "mixing efficiency" Γ and the background stratification N=−gρo∂ρ∂z.

  1. ↑ Osborn, T. R. (1980). Estimates of the Local Rate of Vertical Diffusion from Dissipation Measurements, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 10(1), 83-89