Disentanglement of energetic internal gravity waves and small-scale frontal dynamics

Oceanic fronts with lateral scales less than 20 km are now known to be one of the ma48jor contributors to the vertical heat uxes in the global ocean, which emphasizes their49 potential impact on Earth's climate. However, frontal dynamics with time scales less than50 one day, whose contribution to vertical heat uxes is thought to be signicant, are ob51scured by energetic internal gravity waves. In this study, we address this critical issue52 by disentangling IGWs and frontal dynamics using an approach based on characteris53tic scales of vertical variability. Results using a numerical model with very high-resolution,54 conrm that it is possible to recover frontal dynamics at short time scales and the as55sociated intense vertical velocities and vertical heat uxes. This opens up new perspec56tives for a more accurate estimation of the vertical exchanges of any tracers between the57 surface and the ocean interior.