Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Topographic Influence On Overflow Dynamics: Idealized Numerical Simulations And The Faroe Bank Channel Overflow, Tal Ezer

CCPO Publications

Properties of the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) depend on mixing that occurs in the Denmark Strait (DS) and the Faroe Bank Channel (FBC) overflow regions. How the sill's topography in those regions may affect mixing processes and downstream variability is thus investigated using a high-resolution terrain-following ocean model. Model results agree with observations that show enhanced mixing and entrainment downstream from the sill; however, mixing seems to occur over a longer distance downstream from the FBC sill and more abruptly downstream from the DS sill. Sensitivity experiments with various FBC sill widths demonstrate that the narrow sill is responsible …