DIMES: Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
Detailed in Lead Institution (NOC) Proposal
Publications
Boland E
(2015)
Estimating a Submesoscale Diffusivity Using a Roughness Measure Applied to a Tracer Release Experiment in the Southern Ocean
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Mackay N
(2018)
Diapycnal Mixing in the Southern Ocean Diagnosed Using the DIMES Tracer and Realistic Velocity Fields
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Sheen K
(2014)
Eddy-induced variability in Southern Ocean abyssal mixing on climatic timescales
in Nature Geoscience
Sheen K
(2013)
Rates and mechanisms of turbulent dissipation and mixing in the Southern Ocean: Results from the Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean (DIMES)
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Watson A
(2014)
Direct Estimate of Lateral Eddy Diffusivity Upstream of Drake Passage
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Watson A
(2015)
Southern Ocean buoyancy forcing of ocean ventilation and glacial atmospheric CO2
in Nature Geoscience
Watson A
(2013)
Rapid cross-density ocean mixing at mid-depths in the Drake Passage measured by tracer release
in Nature
Watson AJ
(2014)
The Southern Ocean, carbon and climate.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
| Description | Ocean mixing is fundamental to the large scale overturning of the ocean, and is among the least well characterized of the major variables needed in climate models . Vertical mixing occurs at metre length scales, and in models will always need to be parameterized in terms of larger scale variables, so this is an important area of ocean research for climate, CO2 and heat uptake by the ocean. We used a tracer release, subsurface floats of various types, and microstructure profilers to study mixing processes, centred on Drake Passage but extending broadly east and west. The experiment was accompanied by a range of modelling and theory studies. The scientific payoff will continue for many years - a new and much deeper understanding of mixing in the ocean, and of its role in the dynamics of the overturning circulation, is emerging. Written-up results so far cover (1) Extreme variation in rates of diapycnal mixing with location (e.g. greatly enhanced in Drake Passage1and its relationship to seafloor topography (2) Estimates of the eddy energy and isopycnal diffusivity in the region and comparison with the theories. |
| Exploitation Route | Incorporation of findings into climate GCMs and earth system models. Guide further research into the dynamics and biogeochemistry of the Southern Ocean |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | http://dimes.ucsd.edu/ |
| Description | Publications continue to arise from this work, which has had a substantial impact on our understanding of mixing in the interior of the oceans. Currently however the impact remains mostly within the science community. Discussion meetings among scientists have been stimulated. |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Collaboration in bilateral research project DIMES |
| Organisation | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
| Department | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leadership and participation in Research cruises, supply of equipment, data analysis and synthesis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Leadership and participation in Research cruises, supply of equipment, data analysis and synthesis |
| Impact | publications as detailed in outputs |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Collaboration in bilateral research project DIMES |
| Organisation | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Leadership and participation in Research cruises, supply of equipment, data analysis and synthesis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Leadership and participation in Research cruises, supply of equipment, data analysis and synthesis |
| Impact | publications as detailed in outputs |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Collaboration with NOC and University of Southampton |
| Organisation | National Oceanography Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tracer release experiment observation and analysis teams |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of the James Cook for UK cruises on DIMES. Provision of National Marine Facilities staff and equipment. Physical oceanography input. |
| Impact | Most of the papers have joint authorship |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Drivers of Observed Excess Alkalinity in the Upper Water Column - ocean sciences meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Drivers of Observed Excess Alkalinity in the Upper Water Column - ocean sciences meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | New Estimates of Global and Hemispheric Ocean-Atmosphere CO 2 flux 1992-2018. and Their Uncertainty - ocean sciences meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New Estimates of Global and Hemispheric Ocean-Atmosphere CO 2 flux 1992-2018. and Their Uncertainty |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | The ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre, what it is, how it operates and what it can do to help you supply the data we need to quantify ocean carbon uptake - AGU ocean sciences meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | AGU ocean sciences conference 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |