Generation of density fine structure by salt fingers in a spatially periodic shear

摘要: Vertical shear is ubiquitous in the ocean thermocline. The temperature and salinity gradient are also often favorable to growth of salt fingers. We investigate implications superposed fingering for formation fine structure show that a depth-dependent spatially periodic leads development variations density profile on same wavelength as shear. Laboratory experiments were carried out continuous with produced by exciting low-frequency baroclinic mode vertical 60 mm. consisted opposing sugar gradients fingers (an analogue oceanic heat/salt system). Where shearing was large finger buoyancy fluxes smaller. Changes due resulting flux divergence self-amplifying until steady state reached which spatial ratio such vanished. Thus, along reducing mean varying can lead structure.