Name: Ayon Sen High School: Westwood High School Mentor: Dr. Brian K. Arbic

1. Name: Ayon Sen High School: Westwood High School Mentor: Dr. Brian K. Arbic Project Title: Dissipation of geostrophic oceanic flows by quadratic bottom boundary layer drag The energy of geostrophic motions in the ocean is dissipated by a variety of mechanisms, one of which is quadratic boundary layer drag at the ocean floor. The average global dissipation rate due to this mechanism is estimated by utilizing current velocities measured in-situ by meters at various locations. First, a simple average is computed of the dissipation at deep-water meters and then multiplied by the area of the World Ocean. However, since the spatial distribution of current meter moorings is sparse, raising the question of the bias due to mooring placement, other methods are sought. Satellite altimeter data provide global coverage of surface velocities and can therefore be used to address this bias in two additional methods which combine altimeter and current meter data. All three methods used here suggest a dissipation rate due to bottom drag that balances much of the energy input by wind stress. Such results have implications for the general circulation, the mechanical energy budget of the World Ocean, and the structure of mesoscale eddies.