According to a new theory, stratification of the oceans is controlled by a balance between heat input at the surface and heat redistribution by eddies. But it is early days for this sea-change in thinking.
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Hughes, C. An extra dimension to mixing. Nature 416, 136–139 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/416136a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/416136a
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