Mixing efficiencies in turbulent tidal fronts: results from direct and indirect measurements of density flux

Abstract

This paper reports direct measurements of density flux at a single depth in a turbulent tidal flow, made by towing a CTD beside the vertical beam of a modified acoustic Doppler current profiler. The direct flux estimates are compared with indirect estimates of density flux based on simultaneous microscale profiler measurements of ε and χ, dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy and of temperature variance, respectively. The consequences for interpretation of ocean microstructure flux estimates are discussed. -from Authors