Lecture 1: Advection/diffusion

Question 1

What is advection?

Answer 1

Transport of properties by the flow of a fluid

Question 2

What is volume flux?

Answer 2

The volume flux of an ocean current is the volume of fluid passing through a
prescribed area per unit time.

Question 3

What is the equation for volume flux?

Answer 3

VF = u × A = u × H × W

Question 4

What is 1 Sverdrup?

Answer 4

1 Sverdrup = 1×106 m3 sec-1

= about 400 Olympic swimming pools of
water per second

Question 5

Describe molecular diffusion?

Answer 5

– properties are redistributed due to random motion of water molecules

Question 6

What is the diffusion equation?

Answer 6

x = square root of (4 x k x t)

Question 7

What is eddy diffusion?

Answer 7

– properties are redistributed as a result of stirring by eddies

much faster

Question 8

What are the k (diffusion constants) for molecular diffusion AND eddy diffusion

Answer 8

k = 1 x 10-7 m2 s-1 for molecular diffusion

k = 500 m2 s-1 for eddy diffusion