Correlation of sea surface temperature with cloud patterns off the west coast of North America during the upwelling season
Loading...
Authors
Gerst, Anthony Leo
Subjects
Sea surface temperature
Stratus
Upwelling
Satellite cloud photos
Analysis model
Stratus
Upwelling
Satellite cloud photos
Analysis model
Advisors
Jung, Glenn H.
Date of Issue
1969-10
Date
October 1969
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
The possibility of a correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) and cloud patterns was investigated using cloud photos from the satellites NMBUS II and ESSA VI (1968). Five types of correlation were found to exist: the correlation between status and the California Current and upwelling areas in a warm air mass, between clearing and the California Current and upwelling areas in a cold air mass, between stratus and the upwelling areas under favorable conditions, between frontal clouds and warm tongues of surface water, and between vortices and cold tongues of surface water. A sixth type of correlation was between the surface isobaric pattern and the orientation of cold and warm tongues of surface water. Finally, the divergence of the surface isobars was found not to correlate with the stratus pattern. An awareness of the physical conditions off the coast was vital to seeing and understanding these correlations. A model SST analysis, using the six types of correlation observed, represented the actual SST analysis significantly better than the historical SST analysis.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
124 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.