| Session Details | |
| Section | OS - Ocean Sciences |
| Session Title | Ocean Mixing Frontiers |
| Main Convener | Prof. Toshiyuki Hibiya (The University of Tokyo, Japan) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Robin Robertson (University of New South Wales, Australia) |
| Session Description | The study of ocean mixing processes has made great strides in development of observation technology over the last decade. This includes the improvement of micro-scale and multi-scale profilers, innovation of ocean gliders, as well as identifying internal waves and turbulence through echo sounding from an underway research vessel. These new technologies enable field observations of ocean mixing processes to extend much deeper and wider than ever before. Needless to say, the accumulated knowledge of the observed features has stimulated theoretical and modelling studies related to ocean mixing processes such as internal wave-wave interactions, internal wave interactions with background shear, and associated energy cascade down to dissipation scales as well as assessment and re-formulation of existing turbulent mixing parameterizations to be incorporated into the global circulation and climate models. In this session, we encourage contributors to present recent findings of ocean mixing obtained through field observations as well as theoretical, numerical, and laboratory studies. Through the related detailed discussions, we would like to confirm how far has our understanding of the ocean mixing processes advanced, defining the new frontier of ocean mixing research to be tackled in the next decade. The session encompasses a wide variety of aspects of coastal and open ocean mixing processes; within the water column from the surface through the interior to the near boundary benthic mixing, including the roles of mixing in the biological processes and productivity of the ocean. Observational, theoretical, and numerical modeling studies are all encouraged. |