Reminiscences of MODE
27
many of the same participants. It was called POLYMODE but I am not qualified to
write on the subject.
Thirty years later, it is accepted that quasi-geostrophic meso-scale eddies are
in most parts of the global ocean and they are regarded as essential aspects of the
circulation. Associated variations in sea level are routinely detected by satellite altimetry. Their essential characteristics can be simulated successfully in a global model
driven primarily by wind stress on the surface, provided the spatial resolution is high
enough. A principal source of their energy is baroclinic instability in regions of large
horizontal gradients in potential density, but they interact strongly with local bottom
topography where that is significant. They are responsible for most isopycnal mixing
and lateral transfers of potential vorticity and momentum.
REFERENCES
Booker, J. R., and F. P. Bretherton, 1967. The critical layer for internal gravity waves in a shear flow J.
Fluid Mech. 27, 513–519.
Bretherton, F. P., and M. Karweit, 1975. Mid-ocean mesoscale modeling. In: Numerical Models of Ocean
Circulation. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 237–249.
Bretherton, F. P., R. E. Davis, and C. B. Fandry, 1976. A technique for objective analysis and design of
oceanographic measurements applied to MODE-73. Deep-Sea Res. 23, 559–582.
Robinson, A. R., 1975. Dynamics and the analysis of MODE-1. Report of the MODE-1 Dynamics Group
to the MODE-1 Scientific Council, MODE Executive Office, unpublished.
Swallow, J. C., 1955. A neutral-buoyancy float for measuring deep currents. Deep-Sea Res. 3, 93–104.
Swallow, J. C., and L. V. Worthington, 1957. Measurements of deep currents in the western North Atlantic.
Nature 179, 1183–1184.
The MODE-1 Atlas Group, 1977. Atlas of the Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment (MODE-1). Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
27
many of the same participants. It was called POLYMODE but I am not qualified to
write on the subject.
Thirty years later, it is accepted that quasi-geostrophic meso-scale eddies are
in most parts of the global ocean and they are regarded as essential aspects of the
circulation. Associated variations in sea level are routinely detected by satellite altimetry. Their essential characteristics can be simulated successfully in a global model
driven primarily by wind stress on the surface, provided the spatial resolution is high
enough. A principal source of their energy is baroclinic instability in regions of large
horizontal gradients in potential density, but they interact strongly with local bottom
topography where that is significant. They are responsible for most isopycnal mixing
and lateral transfers of potential vorticity and momentum.
REFERENCES
Booker, J. R., and F. P. Bretherton, 1967. The critical layer for internal gravity waves in a shear flow J.
Fluid Mech. 27, 513–519.
Bretherton, F. P., and M. Karweit, 1975. Mid-ocean mesoscale modeling. In: Numerical Models of Ocean
Circulation. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 237–249.
Bretherton, F. P., R. E. Davis, and C. B. Fandry, 1976. A technique for objective analysis and design of
oceanographic measurements applied to MODE-73. Deep-Sea Res. 23, 559–582.
Robinson, A. R., 1975. Dynamics and the analysis of MODE-1. Report of the MODE-1 Dynamics Group
to the MODE-1 Scientific Council, MODE Executive Office, unpublished.
Swallow, J. C., 1955. A neutral-buoyancy float for measuring deep currents. Deep-Sea Res. 3, 93–104.
Swallow, J. C., and L. V. Worthington, 1957. Measurements of deep currents in the western North Atlantic.
Nature 179, 1183–1184.
The MODE-1 Atlas Group, 1977. Atlas of the Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment (MODE-1). Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.