Best practices for estimating turbulent dissipation from oceanic single-point velocity timeseries observations

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Abstract
We provide best practices for estimating the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy, ε, from velocity measurements in an oceanographic context. These recommendations were developed as part of the Scientific Committee on Oceanographic Research (SCOR) Working Group #160 “Analyzing ocean turbulence observations to quantify mixing”. The recommendations here focus on velocity measurements that enable fitting the inertial subrange of wavenumber velocity spectra. The method examines the measurable range for this method of dissipation rates in the ocean, seas, and other natural waters. The recommendations are intended to be platform-independent since the velocities may be measured using bottom-mounted platforms, platforms mounted beneath the ice, or platforms directly on mooring lines once the data is motion-decontaminated. The procedure for preparing the data for spectral estimation is discussed in detail, along with the quality control metrics that should accompany each estimate of ε during data archiving. The methods are applied to four “benchmark” datasets covering different flow regimes and two instrument types (acoustic-Doppler and time of travel). Problems associated with velocity data quality, such as phase-wrapping, spikes, measurement noise, and frame interference, are illustrated with examples drawn from the benchmarks. Difficulties in resolving and identifying the inertial subrange are also discussed, and recommendations on how these issues should be identified and flagged during data archiving are provided.
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Funding Information
  • Directorate for Geosciences (OCE-2513154)
  • Marsden Fund (NIW1702)
  • Marsden Fund (NIW2102)

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