Detecting changes in Labrador Sea Water through a water mass analysis of BATS data

A new water mass analysis technique is used to analyse the BATS oceanographic data set in the Sargasso Sea of 1988–1998 for changes in Labrador Sea Water (LSW) properties. The technique is based on a sequential quadratic programming method and requires careful definition of constraints to produce re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Henry-Edwards, M. Tomczak
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2006
Subjects:
G
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/58d460982aca4db5a397bc4e05b0516a
Description
Summary:A new water mass analysis technique is used to analyse the BATS oceanographic data set in the Sargasso Sea of 1988–1998 for changes in Labrador Sea Water (LSW) properties. The technique is based on a sequential quadratic programming method and requires careful definition of constraints to produce reliable results. Variations in LSW temperature and salinity observed in the Labrador Sea are used to define the constraints. It is shown that to minimize the residuals while matching the observed temperature and salinity changes in the source region the nitrate concentration in the Labrador Sea has to be allowed to vary as well. It is concluded that during the period of investigation nitrate underwent significant variations in the Labrador Sea.