Research Cruise Palau 2017

Jun 1, 2017
Project
R/V Revelle near Velasco Reef

This was our second and last FLEAT (Flow Encountering Abrupt Topography) cruise and my first time as chief scientist. We successfully recovered five moorings in the vicinity of the island group Palau. In addition, we conducted towed mesurements over submarine ridge along the island of Yap to observe lee waves generated by the mean flow.

The towyos over different parts of the ridge, at different depths, showed strong vertical oscillations of isopycnals and enhanced levels of turbulent dissipation. At each site we repeated the measurements several times over a tidal cycle to be able to discern tidally and mean-flow-generated lee waves. The figure below shows measurements from the deepest lee wave survey north of Yap. Upper panels show stratification and isopycnals, the lower panels turbulent dissipation as measured with chipods.

Repeat towyo sections over Yap Ridge. Upper panels show stratification (colors) and density (contours). Lower panels show turbulent dissipation.

For more details take a look at the cruise report. Below are a few impressions from the cruise.

R/V Revelle anchored near the dock in Palau
Recovering a McLane Moored Profiler
Barnacle growth on the mooring line
Underway to the next mooring site
R/V Revelle near Velasco Reef

Photos © Kirstin Fitzmorris, Conrad Luecke, Derek Young, Mika Siegelman, Pat Collins

fleat research-cruise
Physical Oceanographer

My research focus are small-scale physical oceanic processes and their role for the global ocean circulation.