TRR 181 Special Colloquium "Langmuir turbulence controls the ocean mixed layer depth"

The TRR 181 special colloquium is held by Tobias Kukulka  (University of Delaware) on December 17, 3.15 pm at Universität Hamburg, Bundesstr. 53, room 22/23.

Abstract

Representing upper ocean turbulence accurately in models remains a great challenge for improving weather and climate projections. Langmuir circulation (LC) is a turbulent process driven by wind and surface waves that plays a key role in transferring momentum, heat, and mass in the oceanic surface boundary layer (OSBL). We present direct comparisons between observations and large eddy simulations, based on the wave-averaged Navier-Stokes equation, of mixed layer deepening and shoaling events. We also discuss the transport of buoyant tracers, such as microplastics and oil. Our results demonstrate that LC substantially influences turbulent transport in the OSBL, resulting in deep submergence of buoyant tracers and rapid mixed layer deepening.