Application of similarity theory to forecasting the mixed-layer depth of the ocean
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Authors
McDonnell, John R.
Subjects
Advisors
Wickham, J.B.
Date of Issue
1964
Date
1964
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The thermal structure of the ocean, especially the uppermost mixed
layer, greatly affects sonar ranges. In this paper, similarity theory
is applied to the problem of forecasting the depth of the mixed layer
during the warm season, assuming the controlling processes are secular,
non-advective , and non-divergent. The resulting forecast method consists
mainly of two equations. Parameters used are wind, coriolis effect, the
coefficient of thermal expansion and a measure of the excess heat within
the mixed layer. The constants in the equations were determined using
data from OWS Papa (50N, 145W). The forecast method treats both seasonal
and transitional thermoc lines . The method was tested with data from OWS
Papa and OWS November (30N, 140W). The tests apparently indicate wide
applicability of this forecast method and thus tend to corroborate the
proposal by Kitaigorodsky that the mixed- layer depth is a function of a
universal coefficient.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology and Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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.