@article{fdi:010070336,
  title = {{S}patial patterns of mixing in the {S}olomon {S}ea},
  author = {{A}lberty, {M}. {S}. and {S}printall, {J}. and {M}ac{K}innon, {J}. and {G}anachaud, {A}lexandre and {C}ravatte, {S}ophie and {E}ldin, {G}{\'e}rard and {G}ermineaud, {C}. and {M}elet, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {S}olomon {S}ea is a marginal sea in the southwest {P}acific that connects subtropical and equatorial circulation, constricting transport of {S}outh {P}acific {S}ubtropical {M}ode {W}ater and {A}ntarctic {I}ntermediate {W}ater through its deep, narrow channels. {M}arginal sea topography inhibits internal waves from propagating out and into the open ocean, making these regions hot spots for energy dissipation and mixing. {D}ata from two hydrographic cruises and from {A}rgo profiles are employed to indirectly infer mixing from observations for the first time in the {S}olomon {S}ea. {T}horpe and finescale methods indirectly estimate the rate of dissipation of kinetic energy ({E}) and indicate that it is maximum in the surface and thermocline layers and decreases by 2-3 orders of magnitude by 2000 m depth. {E}stimates of diapycnal diffusivity from the observations and a simple diffusive model agree in magnitude but have different depth structures, likely reflecting the combined influence of both diapycnal mixing and isopycnal stirring. {S}patial variability of {E} is large, spanning at least 2 orders of magnitude within isopycnal layers. {S}easonal variability of {E} reflects regional monsoonal changes in large-scale oceanic and atmospheric conditions with {E} increased in {J}uly and decreased in {M}arch. {F}inally, tide power input and topographic roughness are well correlated with mean spatial patterns of mixing within intermediate and deep isopycnals but are not clearly correlated with thermocline mixing patterns. {P}lain {L}anguage {S}ummary {I}n the ocean, a number of physical processes move heat, salt, and nutrients around vertically by mixing neighboring layers of the ocean together. {T}his study investigates the strength and spatial patterns of this mixing in the {S}olomon {S}ea, which is located in the tropical west {P}acific {O}cean. {E}stimates of the strength of mixing are made using measurements of temperature, salinity, and velocity taken during two scientific cruises in the {S}olomon {S}ea. {M}easurements of temperature and salinity from a network of floats that move up and down through the ocean and travel with ocean currents were also used to estimate the strength and patterns of mixing. {T}his research finds three key results for mixing in the {S}olomon {S}ea: (1) {M}ixing is strongest near the surface of the {S}olomon {S}ea and less strong at deeper depths. (2) {M}ixing varies horizontally, with stronger mixing above underwater ridges and seamounts, and with weaker mixing above smooth and flat seafloor. (3) {T}he strength of mixing changes with the seasons, possibly related to the monsoonal winds which also change in strength over the seasons.},
  keywords = {{S}olomon {S}ea ; mixing ; finescale ; observational ; {PACIFIQUE} {SUD} {OUEST} ; {SALOMON} {MER}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch : {O}ceans},
  volume = {122},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {4021--4039},
  ISSN = {2169-9275},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1002/2016jc012666},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070336},
}