An Estimate Of the Effective Horizontal Eddy Viscosity in the Gulf Stream due to Internal Waves

Abstract

The variation in the herizontal Reynolds stress due to the internal wave field with respect to the location of the Gulf Stream is examined. These measurements are from an array of current meter moorings placed in the mean path of the Gulf Stream at 59°W. Temperature was used as an indication of the current meter's position relative to the Gulf Stream. No systematic variation in the Reynolds stress with respect to the location of the Gulf Stream can be seen. From estimates of the large-scale Horizontal shear, an upper limit for the magnitude of the horizontal eddy viscosity coefficient was found to be 50 m2 s?1.