Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data
This report using data from a five-year period, including the International Geophysical Year (1954-1959), presents a detailed analysis of several aspects of the physical oceanography of the North Atlantic Ocean. Assuming the geostrophic approximation to be valid, a level of no motion was established...
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Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
1978
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ftnavalpschool:oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/18488 2024-06-09T07:48:04+00:00 Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data Baker, Timothy L. Jung, Glenn H. Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.) Oceanography von Schwind, Joseph J. 1978-06 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10945/18488 en_US eng Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School NPS68-78-004 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/18488 This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. North Atlantic Ocean General circulation Heat transport Mass transport Geostrophic ocean currents Level of no motion Oceanography Thesis 1978 ftnavalpschool 2024-05-15T00:52:29Z This report using data from a five-year period, including the International Geophysical Year (1954-1959), presents a detailed analysis of several aspects of the physical oceanography of the North Atlantic Ocean. Assuming the geostrophic approximation to be valid, a level of no motion was established by satisfying the requirement of mass and salt continuity across seven latitude sections from 8 degrees N to 48 degrees N, with each latitude section providing comprehensive temperature and salinity data extending from coast to coast and from the sea surface to the ocean floor. Based on this level of no motion, net meridional heat transport values were determined for each latitude section and compared with those of previous studies for the North Atlantic Ocean and the Northern Hemisphere. The results of this comparison indicate that the inclusion of the heat transported to the bottom peripheral areas did not affect the overall flux of heat to any appreciable degree when compared to results proposed by Jung (1974-1976) using the same data ignoring the bottom area. Also it is seen that the meridional heat transport during the I.G.Y. was anomalously low when compared to values from 1955-1973. Lastly, a general circulation pattern is developed from mass transport values for each of three layers of water: Upper Water, Intermediate Water and Deep and Bottom Water. These circulation patterns are also compared with past descriptions of the general circulation; most notably, those of Sverdrup, et al (1942), Jung (1955) and Worthington (1976). The circulation patterns find good support with all three authors in the Upper and Intermediate Waters, but sharp contrasts exist between the deep and bottom circulation and that proposed by Worthington for his Deep Layer Strong support for the pattern developed in the study is provided, however, by the works of Schmitz (1977) and Tucholke, Wright and Hollister (1973). Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Lieutenant, United States Navy Office of Naval Research ... Thesis North Atlantic Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Naval Postgraduate School: Calhoun |
op_collection_id |
ftnavalpschool |
language |
English |
topic |
North Atlantic Ocean General circulation Heat transport Mass transport Geostrophic ocean currents Level of no motion Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
North Atlantic Ocean General circulation Heat transport Mass transport Geostrophic ocean currents Level of no motion Oceanography Baker, Timothy L. Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
topic_facet |
North Atlantic Ocean General circulation Heat transport Mass transport Geostrophic ocean currents Level of no motion Oceanography |
description |
This report using data from a five-year period, including the International Geophysical Year (1954-1959), presents a detailed analysis of several aspects of the physical oceanography of the North Atlantic Ocean. Assuming the geostrophic approximation to be valid, a level of no motion was established by satisfying the requirement of mass and salt continuity across seven latitude sections from 8 degrees N to 48 degrees N, with each latitude section providing comprehensive temperature and salinity data extending from coast to coast and from the sea surface to the ocean floor. Based on this level of no motion, net meridional heat transport values were determined for each latitude section and compared with those of previous studies for the North Atlantic Ocean and the Northern Hemisphere. The results of this comparison indicate that the inclusion of the heat transported to the bottom peripheral areas did not affect the overall flux of heat to any appreciable degree when compared to results proposed by Jung (1974-1976) using the same data ignoring the bottom area. Also it is seen that the meridional heat transport during the I.G.Y. was anomalously low when compared to values from 1955-1973. Lastly, a general circulation pattern is developed from mass transport values for each of three layers of water: Upper Water, Intermediate Water and Deep and Bottom Water. These circulation patterns are also compared with past descriptions of the general circulation; most notably, those of Sverdrup, et al (1942), Jung (1955) and Worthington (1976). The circulation patterns find good support with all three authors in the Upper and Intermediate Waters, but sharp contrasts exist between the deep and bottom circulation and that proposed by Worthington for his Deep Layer Strong support for the pattern developed in the study is provided, however, by the works of Schmitz (1977) and Tucholke, Wright and Hollister (1973). Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Lieutenant, United States Navy Office of Naval Research ... |
author2 |
Jung, Glenn H. Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.) Oceanography von Schwind, Joseph J. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Baker, Timothy L. |
author_facet |
Baker, Timothy L. |
author_sort |
Baker, Timothy L. |
title |
Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
title_short |
Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
title_full |
Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
title_fullStr |
Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the North Atlantic Ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
title_sort |
mass, salt, and heat transport across seven latitude circles in the north atlantic ocean: a description of the general circulation based on geostrophic calculations from international geophysical year and adjacent data |
publisher |
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School |
publishDate |
1978 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/18488 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
NPS68-78-004 https://hdl.handle.net/10945/18488 |
op_rights |
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. |
_version_ |
1801379628366954496 |