Calculated and observed changes in sea surface temperature associated with hurricane passage.
Loading...
Authors
Jensen, Jack James
Subjects
hurricane
heat content
sea surface temperatures
air-sea interaction
heat content
sea surface temperatures
air-sea interaction
Advisors
Leipper, Dale F.
Date of Issue
1970-09
Date
September 1970
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
Analyses were made of the sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of
Mexico in August for the four years 1965 through 1968. No one pattern
was found to predominate. The subsurface temperature profiles were
then considered, and a rate of simulated withdrawal of 4000 calories
of heat per day was made, until there was no heat in excess of 26 C.
This withdrawal represented heat removed during passage of a hurricane.
Difference analyses were constructed for the initial sea surface
temperature at each station and that after twenty-four hours of simulated
withdrawal. The differences ranged from less than one degree to
over four degrees. Again, no consistent pattern was found but generally
areas of high concentrations of heat experienced smaller decreases.
Actual sea surface temperatures collected after two hurricanes were
then analyzed and compared to temperature patterns predicted by the
computer model. Illustrations of the relative availability of sensible
heat energy for different sea surface temperatures are presented and
a hypothesis made to account for the greater than average intensities
of Hurricanes Betsy (1965) and Camille (1969).
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
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.