The climatological seasonal response of the ocean mixed layer in the equatorial and tropical Pacific Ocean

By

Ries, Harry J.

Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

Monterey, California, Naval Postgraduate School, 1988

Notes

Thesis advisor(s): Garwood, Roland W.

"March 1988."

Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and Oceanography)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 1988.

Seasonal changes of mixed layer depth (MLD) can be related to the forcing by the net surface heating and wind speed. This is shown in this study by comparing the monthly mixed layer depth from temperature profiles in the Bauer-Robinson Numerical Atlas with monthly net surface heating and wind speed obtained from the Weare Marine Climatic Atlas of the Tropical Pacific Ocean. Using a conceptual model based on mixed layer physics, ocean response and atmospheric forcing are examined using the Obukhov mixing length. A pattern in the seasonal variation of upwelling along the Equator is also examined. The model links the atmospheric and oceanic climatologies through the derived MLD (oceanic data) and Obukhov mixing lengths (forcing data). The results show a high degree of pattern similarity between the seasonal response of the ocean and the seasonal changes in atmospheric forcing. The pattern of seasonal influence on MLD at the Equator is very weak in comparison to that of the tropics and sub-tropics. Keywords: Ocean models; Atmosphere models; Equatorial regions; Mixed layer marine; Air water interactions; Theses. (EDC)

Subjects

Oceanography

Call Number

R463

Language

English

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.62083
OCLC: 81458854
Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q51456845