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Mixing and stirring in the ocean…. The diffusion equation Molecular ...

Mixing and stirring in the ocean…. The diffusion equation Molecular ...

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Turbulent <strong>diffusion</strong>….Eddy diffusivities are usually many orders ofmagnitude larger than <strong>the</strong>ir molecular counterparts.Example: temperature <strong>in</strong> water (molecular) ~ 10 -3 cm 2 /secVertical <strong>diffusion</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean, κ z ~ 0.01 – 1 cm 2 /secHorizontal <strong>diffusion</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean, κ x ~ 10 6 – 10 8 cm 2 /secNote: <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> turbulent case <strong>the</strong> eddy diffusivities might bedifferent <strong>in</strong> different directions, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> processesresponsible for <strong>the</strong> mix<strong>in</strong>g might differ along coord<strong>in</strong>ate axes.Example: stratification is different vertically <strong>and</strong> horizontally<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean.

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