WHOI PO
Giovanni Dematteis, University of Turin - Internal Waves: A Hub of Energy Exchange between Large and Small Ocean Scales
| Date |
Time |
Location |
| April 29th, 2025 |
3:05pm-4:05pm |
Clark 201 |
TITLE: Internal waves: A hub of energy exchange between large and small ocean scales.
ABSTRACT: In the ocean interior, internal waves represent a fundamental conduit of energy between large and small ocean scales. Through this interscale conduit flows the energy necessary to sustain vertical mixing and thereby the upwelling branch of the meridional overturning circulation. Here, I present my efforts in developing a first-principle theory of the energy cascade in the ocean’s internal wavefield to elevate the semi-empirical finescale parameterizations to more solid and general footing. These efforts are underpinned by broad observational guidance and validation with the analysis of: (i) in-situ high-resolution measurements of internal wave spectra and turbulent mixing; (ii) compilation of a global dataset of 2D internal wave spectra from combining Argo data with the Global Multi-Archive Current Meter Database. This combined dataset documents an internal wave spectrum with wide regional variability, much different from the old picture of a universal spectral shape. The theoretical mixing predictions with input from measured spectra agree with microstructure estimates quite ubiquitously across a broad range of oceanic conditions, paving a way forward toward process-based parameterizations of vertical mixing.