Marginal sea overflows are the starting points of the thermohaline circulation since they are the sources of the deep and intermediate water formation. Observations show that there are different processes that affect the amount of mixing in the overflows such as hydraulic control, bottom stress, rotation and shear instabilities. In addition to this, bottom topography and overflow eddies are also responsible for setting up the product water properties of the overflows.

The goal of this study is to determine whether the processes that induce mixing in all overflows are the same or not. Idealized and realistic numerical simulations are performed to identify the dynamics of the overflows. Non-hydrostatic 2D and 3D simulations were employed to model an idealized exchange flow in a narrow channel with different topographic features such as sills and constraints. In addition to that, 3D regional non-hydrostatic Bosphorus strait exchange flow is simulated. We also try to distinguish the similarities and differences between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean overflows using high resolution regional models.

Dr. Ilicak received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. He earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology & Physical Oceanography from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Program for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at Princeton University. Dr. Ilicak's research interests include two-layer exchange flows, effect of topography in overflows, stratified turbulence, and high order turbulence closures.

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