Analysis of Water Mass at Pacific Ocean Station VICTOR, 1964-65.

• Main Author: Corton, Edward L.
• Other Authors: NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE NSTL STATION MS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1969
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; (*BATHYTHERMOGRAPH DATA; PACIFIC OCEAN); (*WEATHER STATIONS; SAMPLING); SALINITY; TEMPERATURE; DEEP WATER; HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING; UNDERWATER SOUND; VELOCITY; SURFACE TEMPERATURE; THICKNESS; SEA WATER; UPWELLING; VICTOR OCEAN WEATHER STATION; Pacific; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0866789; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0866789

Analysis of 271 Nansen casts obtained during four 3-week cruises at ocean weather station (OWS) VICTOR (34N, 164E) between March 1964 and June 1965 showed that seasonal influence extended from the surface to 150 meters. The local central water mass was more saline than Western North Pacific Central Water at temperatures above 9.5C and less saline at lower temperatures. Intermediate water (salinity less than 34.00(0/00) occurred at temperatures between 5.5 and 7.5C. Average depth of minimum salinity in this water mass varied nonseasonally between 400 and 640 meters. Minimum sound velocity occurred within the deepwater mass in contrast to its presence in the intermediate water in the North Atlantic (at OWS DELTA, 44 degrees N, 41 degrees W). The central water mass was less variable at VICTOR than at DELTA4 BUT SUDDEN CHANGES OF PROBABLE MESOSCALE ORIGIN OCCURRED IN BOTH OCEANS. Apparent upwelling of about 10 meters per day observed in November-December 1964 could have been caused by migrating mesoscale eddy. Observations at a single location can be used for predicting water mass variability; however, synoptic observations around the location are required for predicting mesoscale changes. (Author)