The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Trapped Near-Inertial Internal Waves Induce Significant Mixing Asymmetry Across the Kuroshio Extension Front
ID:506 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 16:45 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 76 - Internal Waves and Ocean Mixing

Abstract
Near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are a major energy source for turbulent mixing in the ocean interior, yet their interactions with strongly baroclinic western boundary current fronts remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the influence of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) front on subsurface turbulent mixing using Argo observations and high-resolution shipboard measurements. Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates estimated independently from Argo and shipboard observations consistently reveal a pronounced cross-front asymmetry. Although turbulent mixing is slightly stronger north of the front above approximately 300 m, dissipation is substantially enhanced on the southern flank between 300 and 800 m, accompanied by intensified vertical turbulent heat fluxs. Surface near-inertial wind energy input estimated from slab-model calculations and Global Drifter Program observations is greater on the northern side of the KE front, indicating that local wind forcing alone cannot explain the observed subsurface mixing pattern. High-resolution shipboard observations reveal coherent bands of enhanced near-inertial shear confined within the frontal zone. Combined with ray-tracing analysis based on frontal wave dispersion theory, these results demonstrate that downward-propagating NIWs are trapped within slantwise critical layers generated by strong frontal baroclinicity and geostrophic shear. Wave trapping enhances vertical shear, promotes wave breaking, and leads to intensified turbulent dissipation on the southern side of the front. Our results provide observational evidence that frontally trapped NIWs generate a large-scale asymmetry in subsurface turbulent mixing across the KE front, highlighting the important role of front–NIW interactions in regulating interior mixing and diapycnal heat transport in western boundary current systems.
Speaker
Jie Zheng Tianjin University;School of Marine Science and Technology

Author
jie zheng China; Tianjin; Tianjin University;School of Marine Science and Technology

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

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    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027