{"id":{"repo_id":"woods-hole","oai_identifier":"oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/4787"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/woods-hole/oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/4787","repository":{"repo_id":"woods-hole","name":"Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute","base_url":"https://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Impacts of double-diffusive processes on the thermohaline circulation","abstract":"Double-diffusive processes are studied and parameterized, and their impacts on the oceanic thermohaline circulation are investigated by single-hemisphere numerical models and scaling analysis. Scaling analysis on the thermohaline circulation has been done under three types of surface boundary conditions. (a) Under \"relaxation\" conditions, there is a two-thirds power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate (and the poleward heat transport) on the diapycnal diffusivity. For any given external forcing, there is only one equilibrium state for the thermohaline circulation. (b) Under \"flux\" boundary conditions, there is a half power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate on the diapycnal diffusivity. Only one mode is possible for given external forcing. (c) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, multiple equilibria become possible. For given thermal forcing, the existence of multiple equilibria depends on the relative contributions of diapycnal diffusivity and the hydrologic forcing. Numerical experiments are implemented to test the above scaling arguments. Consistent results have been obtained under the above three types of boundary conditions. These provide a basis for understanding how the thermohaline circulation depends on the diapycnal diffusivity, which we know is influenced by the double-diffusive processes of \"salt fingering\" and \"diffusive layering\" in some parts of the ocean. In order to examine this issue, the double-diffusive processes are parameterized by diapycnal eddy diffusivities for heat and salt that are different and depend on the local density ratio, Rp= αTz/βSz. A background diffusivity is applied to represent turbulent mixing in the stratified environment. The implementation of this double-diffusive - parameterization in numerical models has significant impacts on the thermohaline circulation. (a) Under \"relaxation\" boundary conditions, the meridional overturning rate and the poleward heat transport are reduced, and water mass properties are also changed. Similar results are obtained under \"flux\" boundary conditions. (b) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, the critical freshwater flux for the existence of the thermal mode becomes smaller with the double-diffusive parameterization. The extent to which the thermohaline circulation is affected by double-diffusive processes depends on the magnitude of the freshwater forcing.","abstract_html":"Double-diffusive processes are studied and parameterized, and their impacts on the oceanic thermohaline circulation are investigated by single-hemisphere numerical models and scaling analysis. Scaling analysis on the thermohaline circulation has been done under three types of surface boundary conditions. (a) Under "relaxation" conditions, there is a two-thirds power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate (and the poleward heat transport) on the diapycnal diffusivity. For any given external forcing, there is only one equilibrium state for the thermohaline circulation. (b) Under "flux" boundary conditions, there is a half power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate on the diapycnal diffusivity. Only one mode is possible for given external forcing. (c) Under "mixed" boundary conditions, multiple equilibria become possible. For given thermal forcing, the existence of multiple equilibria depends on the relative contributions of diapycnal diffusivity and the hydrologic forcing. Numerical experiments are implemented to test the above scaling arguments. Consistent results have been obtained under the above three types of boundary conditions. These provide a basis for understanding how the thermohaline circulation depends on the diapycnal diffusivity, which we know is influenced by the double-diffusive processes of "salt fingering" and "diffusive layering" in some parts of the ocean. In order to examine this issue, the double-diffusive processes are parameterized by diapycnal eddy diffusivities for heat and salt that are different and depend on the local density ratio, Rp= αTz/βSz. A background diffusivity is applied to represent turbulent mixing in the stratified environment. The implementation of this double-diffusive - parameterization in numerical models has significant impacts on the thermohaline circulation. (a) Under "relaxation" boundary conditions, the meridional overturning rate and the poleward heat transport are reduced, and water mass properties are also changed. Similar results are obtained under "flux" boundary conditions. (b) Under "mixed" boundary conditions, the critical freshwater flux for the existence of the thermal mode becomes smaller with the double-diffusive parameterization. The extent to which the thermohaline circulation is affected by double-diffusive processes depends on the magnitude of the freshwater forcing.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zhang, Jubao"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1998,"date_issued":"1998-08","date_published":"1998-08","updated_at":"2026-07-27T22:05:06Z","subjects":["Thermoclines","Ocean circulation"],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.1575/1912/4787"],"render_values":[{"text":"10.1575/1912/4787","href":"https://doi.org/10.1575/1912/4787","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4787","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zhang, Jubao"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2011-08-29T15:46:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2011-08-29T15:46:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["1998-08"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Thermoclines","Ocean circulation"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.1575/1912/4787"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4787"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution August 1998"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Double-diffusive processes are studied and parameterized, and their impacts on the oceanic thermohaline circulation are investigated by single-hemisphere numerical models and scaling analysis. Scaling analysis on the thermohaline circulation has been done under three types of surface boundary conditions. (a) Under \"relaxation\" conditions, there is a two-thirds power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate (and the poleward heat transport) on the diapycnal diffusivity. For any given external forcing, there is only one equilibrium state for the thermohaline circulation. (b) Under \"flux\" boundary conditions, there is a half power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate on the diapycnal diffusivity. Only one mode is possible for given external forcing. (c) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, multiple equilibria become possible. For given thermal forcing, the existence of multiple equilibria depends on the relative contributions of diapycnal diffusivity and the hydrologic forcing. Numerical experiments are implemented to test the above scaling arguments. Consistent results have been obtained under the above three types of boundary conditions. These provide a basis for understanding how the thermohaline circulation depends on the diapycnal diffusivity, which we know is influenced by the double-diffusive processes of \"salt fingering\" and \"diffusive layering\" in some parts of the ocean. In order to examine this issue, the double-diffusive processes are parameterized by diapycnal eddy diffusivities for heat and salt that are different and depend on the local density ratio, Rp= αTz/βSz. A background diffusivity is applied to represent turbulent mixing in the stratified environment. The implementation of this double-diffusive - parameterization in numerical models has significant impacts on the thermohaline circulation. (a) Under \"relaxation\" boundary conditions, the meridional overturning rate and the poleward heat transport are reduced, and water mass properties are also changed. Similar results are obtained under \"flux\" boundary conditions. (b) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, the critical freshwater flux for the existence of the thermal mode becomes smaller with the double-diffusive parameterization. The extent to which the thermohaline circulation is affected by double-diffusive processes depends on the magnitude of the freshwater forcing."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Impacts of double-diffusive processes on the thermohaline circulation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Zhang, Jubao"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2011-08-29T15:46:27Z"],"dc:date.available":["2011-08-29T15:46:27Z"],"dc:date.issued":["1998-08"],"dc:description":["Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution August 1998"],"dc:description.abstract":["Double-diffusive processes are studied and parameterized, and their impacts on the oceanic thermohaline circulation are investigated by single-hemisphere numerical models and scaling analysis. Scaling analysis on the thermohaline circulation has been done under three types of surface boundary conditions. (a) Under \"relaxation\" conditions, there is a two-thirds power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate (and the poleward heat transport) on the diapycnal diffusivity. For any given external forcing, there is only one equilibrium state for the thermohaline circulation. (b) Under \"flux\" boundary conditions, there is a half power law dependence of the meridional overturning rate on the diapycnal diffusivity. Only one mode is possible for given external forcing. (c) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, multiple equilibria become possible. For given thermal forcing, the existence of multiple equilibria depends on the relative contributions of diapycnal diffusivity and the hydrologic forcing. Numerical experiments are implemented to test the above scaling arguments. Consistent results have been obtained under the above three types of boundary conditions. These provide a basis for understanding how the thermohaline circulation depends on the diapycnal diffusivity, which we know is influenced by the double-diffusive processes of \"salt fingering\" and \"diffusive layering\" in some parts of the ocean. In order to examine this issue, the double-diffusive processes are parameterized by diapycnal eddy diffusivities for heat and salt that are different and depend on the local density ratio, Rp= αTz/βSz. A background diffusivity is applied to represent turbulent mixing in the stratified environment. The implementation of this double-diffusive - parameterization in numerical models has significant impacts on the thermohaline circulation. (a) Under \"relaxation\" boundary conditions, the meridional overturning rate and the poleward heat transport are reduced, and water mass properties are also changed. Similar results are obtained under \"flux\" boundary conditions. (b) Under \"mixed\" boundary conditions, the critical freshwater flux for the existence of the thermal mode becomes smaller with the double-diffusive parameterization. The extent to which the thermohaline circulation is affected by double-diffusive processes depends on the magnitude of the freshwater forcing."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.doi":["10.1575/1912/4787"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4787"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution"],"dc:subject":["Thermoclines","Ocean circulation"],"dc:title":["Impacts of double-diffusive processes on the thermohaline circulation"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T22:05:06Z"}