Mass, salt, and heat transportation across four latitude circles in the south Atlantic Ocean.
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Authors
Mason, J. Robert
Subjects
South Atlantic Ocean
general circulation
heat transport
mass transport
salt transport
geostrophic ocean currents
level of no motion
general circulation
heat transport
mass transport
salt transport
geostrophic ocean currents
level of no motion
Advisors
Jung, Glenn H.
Date of Issue
1978-12
Date
December 1978
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
In this report classic dynamic height calculations were made from
International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) and adjacent 1959 oceanographic
data to obtain geostrophic currents and estimates of mass, salt,
and heat transports in the South Atlantic Ocean. The cross sections
extend from South America to Africa along the 8°S, 16 °S, 24 °S, and 32 °S
latitude lines , providing temperature and salinity data from the surface
to near bottom.
A level of no motion was determined by establishing mass and salt
continuity across each of the latitudinal cross sections. This level
varied from 1100 meters at 8°S to 1270 meters at 32 °S. It is approximated
by the 27.57 sigma-t surface and corresponds closely to the
boundary between the Antarctic Intermediate Water and the South Atlantic
Deep Water masses.
The resulting meridional heat transport was then examined and compared
with other estimates . Northward (equatorward) heat transports
resulted at each latitude , which would seem to oppose the conventional
view of the role of the ocean in the earth's heat budget as a means to
transfer heat from equator to poles. However, the northward direction
of the net absolute heat transport agrees with the consensus of previous
work and is attributed to the warmer surface currents with a net northward
transport dominating the cooler deeper currents and their net
southward flow.
A general circulation pattern was developed from mass transport
values for each of three layers of water: Upper, Intermediate, and Deep
and Bottom Water. These derived circulation patterns are then compared
to general descriptive circulation patterns found in the literature.
General agreement was found with the notable exception of lacking a
strong Brazil current in the surface and central waters. Vertical
cross sections of velocity, mass, salt, and heat transport were contoured
to examine the eddy field circulation pattern and further describe
general circulation patterns.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS 68-78-007
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research under #N00014-78-WR-80032
Funder
Office of Naval Research under #N00014-78-WR-80032
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.