A study of horizontal sea surface temperature variability
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Authors
Butler, William Aubrey
Subjects
Sea Surface Temperature
Horizontal Temperature Variability
Temperature Spectra
Temperature Patchiness
Temperature Variance
Ocean Thermal Structure
Mesoscale Temperature Variability
Horizontal Temperature Variability
Temperature Spectra
Temperature Patchiness
Temperature Variance
Ocean Thermal Structure
Mesoscale Temperature Variability
Advisors
Garwood, Roland W.
Thornton, Edward B.
Date of Issue
1981-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The horizontal variability of "patchiness" in sea surface temperature
structure is examined on length scales between 0.6 and 76.8 kilometers.
A primary purpose was to test the hypothesis that atmospheric forcing is
a cause of horizontal temperature variance on these length scales. Using
continuous sea surface temperatures acquired in the Central North Pacific
Ocean, spectra were computed for temperature variance. The variability
in these spectra on seasonal, synoptic, and diurnal periods was then
examined and correlated with changes in atmospheric conditions. Important
results found included a seasonal dependence for the patchiness structure,
a negative correlation between surface temperature variance and wind speed
on a synoptic time scale, and a diurnal variability in patchiness that
may be explained by solar insolation and turbulent heat exchange with the
atmosphere. In conclusion, a strong atmospherically controlled temporal
variability in the small scale horizontal sea surface temperature variance
is found and may explain inconsistencies in earlier observational and
theoretical studies.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology and Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.