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<p>Small-scale turbulent mixing in the ocean interior is vital in governing ocean circulation and tracer distributions, and hence global climate. However, the planetary extent of this role and its dependence on the microphysics of mixing remain inadequately understood. Here, we emphasize the variety of spatio-temporal scales on which such interior turbulent mixing can shape the climate system. In addition to its well-established role in facilitating the equilibration of deep branches of ocean circulation on centennial-to-millennial timescales, interior turbulent mixing is a leading determinant of oceanic tracer budgets on timescales as short as sub-annual. We highlight the importance of the co-dependence of vertical (diapycnal) mixing and lateral (isopycnal) stirring in establishing the large-scale impacts of oceanic turbulence. We conclude with a summary of theoretical, observational and computational bottlenecks in the way of a sufficiently accurate representation of mixing in Earth System Models, and discuss emerging opportunities for making progress in these areas.</p>

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Climatic reach of small-scale turbulence in the ocean interior

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • Laura Cimoli,
  • Ali Mashayek,
  • Alberto C. Naveira Garabato,
  • Colm-cille P. Caulfield,
  • Matthew H. Alford,
  • Lois Baker,
  • B. B. Cael,
  • Bieito Fernández Castro,
  • Casimir de Lavergne,
  • Elizabeth Ellison,
  • Geoffrey Gebbie,
  • Jonathan Gula,
  • Patrick Heimbach,
  • Joshua Lanham,
  • Arnaud Le Boyer,
  • Kate Oglethorpe,
  • W. Richard Peltier,
  • Helen R. Pillar,
  • Alexander M. Piotrowski,
  • Sarah G. Purkey,
  • Nick Reynard,
  • Emily Shuckburgh,
  • Martin J. Siegert,
  • Alessandro Silvano,
  • Luke C. Skinner,
  • Carl P. Spingys,
  • Lynne D. Talley,
  • John R. Taylor,
  • Gunnar Voet,
  • Richard G. Williams,
  • Chris Wilson,
  • Bethan L. Wynne-Cattanach

摘要

Small-scale turbulent mixing in the ocean interior is vital in governing ocean circulation and tracer distributions, and hence global climate. However, the planetary extent of this role and its dependence on the microphysics of mixing remain inadequately understood. Here, we emphasize the variety of spatio-temporal scales on which such interior turbulent mixing can shape the climate system. In addition to its well-established role in facilitating the equilibration of deep branches of ocean circulation on centennial-to-millennial timescales, interior turbulent mixing is a leading determinant of oceanic tracer budgets on timescales as short as sub-annual. We highlight the importance of the co-dependence of vertical (diapycnal) mixing and lateral (isopycnal) stirring in establishing the large-scale impacts of oceanic turbulence. We conclude with a summary of theoretical, observational and computational bottlenecks in the way of a sufficiently accurate representation of mixing in Earth System Models, and discuss emerging opportunities for making progress in these areas.