This study assesses internal wave breaking and turbulent mixing above steeply sloping topography in the near-equatorial ocean using high-resolution temperature data from moored sensors. Conducted over a week, the observations from 0.4 to 56.4 meters above the seafloor reveal that turbulence values are consistent despite vertical density stratification and are comparable to those near mid-latitude sites. The findings challenge existing assumptions about the significance of the Coriolis force in turbulent mixing, demonstrating that internal wave dynamics do not substantially differ from mid-latitude conditions in this context.
The observations reveal significant internal wave breaking in the near-equatorial ocean, suggesting turbulence dynamics that differ from those in mid-latitude environments despite lower stratification.
Despite the weak Coriolis force in equatorial regions, our findings indicate that internal wave-induced turbulence above steep topography is surprisingly organized compared to mid-latitudes.
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