Overlapping turbulent boundary layers in an energetic coastal sea

Valcarcel, Arnaud F.; Stevens, Craig L.; O'Callaghan, Joanne M.; Suanda, Sutara H.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-965-2025

Articles | Volume 21, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-965-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Special issue:

Advances in ocean science from underwater gliders

https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-965-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 3

Research article

|

03 Jun 2025

Research article |

| 03 Jun 2025

Overlapping turbulent boundary layers in an energetic coastal sea

Arnaud F. Valcarcel, Craig L. Stevens, Joanne M. O'Callaghan, and Sutara H. Suanda

Data sets

Ocean Microstructure Glider observations in Cook Strait, New Zealand O’Callaghan, J. and Elliott, F. https://doi.org/10.17882/89143

Wind and current speeds in Cook Strait, New Zealand Valcarcel, A., Stevens, C., O’Callaghan, J., Suanda, S., and Grant, B. https://doi.org/10.17882/89142

Short summary

This paper describes underwater robotic measurements in an energetic strait. The data show how energy is transferred from winds and tides to turbulent processes. Boundary layers of strong turbulence affected the water from surface to seafloor across an unusually deep extent, except when fresher or warmer waters moved into the region. Numerical models revealed that turbulent energy transport allowed boundary layers to interact. This phenomenon may impact the biological structure of coastal seas.