Oceanographic Observations, North Atlantic Ocean Station DELTA. Terminal Report 1966-1973.

• Main Author: Jones,David
• Other Authors: COAST GUARD WASHINGTON DC OCEANOGRAPHIC UNIT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1979
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; *Sea water; *Ocean currents; Salinity; Sources; North Atlantic Ocean; Subsurface; Seasonal variations; Surface waters; Transport properties; Ocean surface; Mass transportation; Oceanographic data; Stations; Water masses; Labrador current; Ocean station delta; north atlantic current; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA112341; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA112341

Oceanographic data on Ocean Station DELTA (44 deg 00 min N, 41 deg 00 min W) analyzed and presented for the period 1966 to 1973. A typical one year cycle is described. The entire water column (0 to 1500 meters) consists of North Atlantic Central Water during the winter months. Subsurface salinities of greater that 36 parts/thousand are present in significant amounts only in later summer and early fall. During this period the surface salinities are at a yearly minimum. The subsurface salinity maximum is, therefore, not a result of differences between evaporation and precipitation (E-P). This water mass is determined to be of North Atlantic Current origin. The oscillation of the North Atlantic Current from the northwest onto and sometimes across Ocean Station DELTA is a regular feature of this area and varies in intensity from year to year. The oscillation of the North Atlantic Current apparently is controlled by changes in the transport of the Labrador Current and the North Atlantic Current. No appreciable long term changes in temperature and salinity were noted in the seven years of data analyzed. (Author)