The role of salinity in equatorial mixed layers
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Authors
Stougard, Pegeen O'Neil
Subjects
Oceanic mixed layer
Salinity
Ocean models
Salinity
Ocean models
Advisors
Garwood, Roland W., Jr.
Guest, Arlene A.
Date of Issue
1998-06-01
Date
June 1998
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the role of surface salinity flux in changing heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere by means of its effect on mixed layer dynamics. This was accomplished by a series of thirty-day mixed layer experiments using the one-dimensional Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) mixed layer model. Results from the NPS mixed layer model, forced with both idealized and in situ data from the western equatorial Pacific Ocean, demonstrated that salinity can play a significant role in potentially changing the surface heat flux, with its effect on the mixed layer depth and mixed layer temperature. Precipitation stabilized the mixed layer by creating a barrier layer, which slowed entrainment. The net accumulation of rain was found to be an important source of buoyancy that reduces entrainment by subsequent wind mixing events.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
x, 56 p.
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.