Nine-year trajectory of a SOFAR float in the southwestern North Atlantic

A SOFAR float at a depth of approximately 100 m was tracked intermittently for 9 years, the longest such trajectory ever obtained. This instrument was launched near 24N, 69W in October 1976. Tracking ceased when it was near 22N, 56W in June 1985. The llong-term drift was ≈1 cm s-1 eastward, in agree...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers
Main Authors: Owens, W. B., Richardson, P. L., Schmitz, W. J., Rossby, H. T., Weeb, D. C.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: DigitalCommons@URI 1988
Subjects:
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/gsofacpubs/2301
https://doi.org/10.1016/0198-0149(88)90112-4
Description
Summary:A SOFAR float at a depth of approximately 100 m was tracked intermittently for 9 years, the longest such trajectory ever obtained. This instrument was launched near 24N, 69W in October 1976. Tracking ceased when it was near 22N, 56W in June 1985. The llong-term drift was ≈1 cm s-1 eastward, in agreement with a few other 700 m floats and with geostrophic flow estimates for this region. The kinetic energy level of 20 cm2 s-2 is similar to those observed by current meters in the ocean interior away from western boundary currents, but eddy variability is more concentrated in the mesoscale frequencies. The zonal and meridional variances are roughly the same. © 1988.

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