Horizontal Advection of Temperature in the Seasonal Thermocline during JASIN 1978

T. M. Joyce Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA 02543

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R. H. Käse Institut für Meereskunde, Universität Kiel, Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany

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W. Zenk Institut für Meereskunde, Universität Kiel, Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany

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Abstract

The temporal changes in the low-frequency thermal structure during a two-week period in August-September 1978 are discussed from moored data collected during the JASIN experiment. While some changes in the thermal structure appear to be related to local winds, the dominant low-frequency variability in the seasonal thermocline can be explained as horizontal advection of a spatially varying temperature field, and associated thermal wind, by geostrophic currents with little vertical motion or mixing required.

Abstract

The temporal changes in the low-frequency thermal structure during a two-week period in August-September 1978 are discussed from moored data collected during the JASIN experiment. While some changes in the thermal structure appear to be related to local winds, the dominant low-frequency variability in the seasonal thermocline can be explained as horizontal advection of a spatially varying temperature field, and associated thermal wind, by geostrophic currents with little vertical motion or mixing required.

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