A Novel Cost-Effective Approach for Collecting Time-Series of Turbulence Properties in Aquatic Systems – Part II

This study presents a novel, cost-effective approach for estimating turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates () and temperature variance dissipation rates () using high-resolution data from fast-response temperature sensors. By leveraging a purpose-built MATLAB toolbox (Solo_T), we developed an integrated methodology to process temperature time-series, estimate key turbulence parameters, and evaluate mixing processes. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated through field deployments in the northern Arabian Gulf, a dynamically forced, shallow marine environment influenced by episodic Shamal winds and internal wave activity. The methodology captures key turbulence features and temporal variability under varying atmospheric and oceanographic conditions. A comprehensive description of the toolbox architecture, spectral processing workflow, and the theoretical formulations underpinning the computations is provided. Comparisons with two benchmark microstructure profilers show strong agreement, with discrepancies in and estimates within 18%, and correlation coefficients for ranging between 0.49 and 0.66 across depths, underscoring the accuracy and robustness of the method. This work contributes a reproducible, scalable framework for turbulence studies and expands observational capabilities in coastal, semi-enclosed, and other under sampled aquatic systems, where traditional turbulence profilers are often impractical or cost prohibitive.