The role of strong atmospheric forcing events in the modification of the upper ocean thermal structure during the cooling season
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Authors
Camp, Norman Thomas
Subjects
Mixed layer
Thermal structure
Sea-surface temperature
Mixed-layer models
Extratropical cyclone
Entrainment
Turbulent kinetic energy
Non-penetrative convection
Thermal structure
Sea-surface temperature
Mixed-layer models
Extratropical cyclone
Entrainment
Turbulent kinetic energy
Non-penetrative convection
Advisors
Elsberry, R.L.
Date of Issue
1976-12
Date
December 1976
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The role of strong atmospheric forcing events in determining the evolution of the upper ocean during the fall and early winter cooling season was investigated. The historical series of surface and near-surface marine observations at three mid-latitude ocean weather ships (PAPA (OWS P), NOVEMBER (OWS N), and VICTOR (OWS V)) support the hypothesis that the integrated effects of these events dominate this evolution. For example, periods when the mechanical forcing was greater than the long-term mean accounted for approximately 35% of the time in the record examined at the three stations. However 85%/68%/57% of the sea-surface temperature change at OWS N/OWS P/OWS V occurred during these periods. Forty-nine data sets were examined and modeled during periods of intense fall and winter forcing. The significant thermal structure modifications observed during these strong events were simulated successfully using three modifications of the Kraus and Turner (1967) one- dimensional model. Evidence is presented which demonstrates that the amount of mechanically-generated turbulent kinetic energy available for entrainment decreases as the mixed-layer depth increases. Furthermore, in agreement with Gill and Turner (1976), these case studies suggest that only a small percentage of the convectively-generated turbulent kinetic energy is available for increasing the potential energy of the ocean by entrainment. (Author)
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Department of Meteorology
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
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.