Evolution of small-scale turbulence at large Richardson numbers

Abstract

The theory of stratified turbulent flow developed earlier by the authors is applied to data from different areas of the ocean. It is shown that turbulence can be amplified and supported even at large gradient Richardson numbers. The cause of that is the exchange between kinetic and potential energies of turbulence. Using the profiles of Brunt-Väisälä frequency and vertical current shear given in , the profiles of the kinetic energy dissipation rate are calculated. The results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.