OCEAN MIXING AND TRANSPORT

Understanding ocean mixing processes with the help of a novel scanning system.

The role of biogenic turbulence in scalar transport and ocean mixing, especially from aggregates of vertically migrating swimmers, is still a matter of significant debate. Quantifying the nature of this mixing requires that the entire flow field and the full range of mixing scales, from the size of the aggregate to below that of the individual animal, be resolved. While there have been significant advancements in the capability of volumetric velocimetry techniques, the spatial resolution often associated with these techniques is insufficient for exploring common species of vertically migrating swimmers. I'm developing a scanning particle image velocimetry apparatus for quantifying three-dimensional configurations of vertically migrating swimmers and their volumetric, three-component velocity fields and demonstrate its use on the vertical migrations of the brine shrimp Artemia salina.