Horizontal mixing in the sea due to a shearing current

In addition to the random processes described as horizontal turbulence, there are certain more regular processes which may contribute to horizontal mixing. One of these occurs in a shearing current, where the vertical gradient of velocity combined with vertical turbulent mixing leads to an effective diffusion in the horizontal direction. It is shown that this effect occurs in an alternating flow, such as a tidal current, as well as in a steady flow. In estuaries and coastal waters horizontal mixing by the shear effect may be associated with tidal currents, density currents or wind-driven currents. In each case the effective coefficient of horizontal diffusion, Kx or Ky, is inversely proportional to the coefficient of vertical eddy diffusion Kz. The occurrence of a stable gradient of density therefore increases the effective horizontal mixing very considerably. Results obtained from observations in the Mersey estuary and Irish Sea are compared with theoretical estimates of these effects.