Uncertainties and Limitations in Measuring ϵ and χT

Abstract

Extending the range of microstructure measurements from the upper thermocline of the open ocean to shallow waters near shore and to the abyss has greatly increased in the range of turbulent intensities being observed. As a result, it is necessary to reexamine the adequacy of microstructure probes to resolve dissipation-scale gradients of velocity and temperature. These variances are needed to estimate directly the viscous dissipation rate, ?, with airfoil probes and the diffusive dissipation rate, ?T, with thermistors.