Change in Heat Content. The bathythermogram is ideally- 

 suited for quantitative studies of the change in heat content 

 of the upper layers of the ocean. In order to make such a 

 study, it is necessary to have repeated bathythermo grams 

 taken over a period of time in the same general geographical 

 location. On Operation HIGHJUMP, the area most suited for 

 this type of study was between latitude 65.5°S to 68.0°S and 

 longitude 105°W to 112°W. In this region observations were 

 made during December, January, and February; consequently 

 it is possible to study the variations in the thermal structure 

 and hence the changes in heat content of the surface layers 

 during this period. The distribution of bathythermograph data 

 throughout these months in the selected area is shown in 

 table 1. 



Table 1. Monthly distribution of bathythermograms used 

 for heat content study. 



Month 



Dates 



Number of Observations 



December 



January 



February 



25 to 31 

 1 to 31 

 1 to 6 



41 



112 



6 



The change in the heat content in the upper layers of the 

 sea may be considered as one term of the general heat budget 

 of the ocean. For any given area of ocean the heat budget may 

 be expressed by the following equation: 



Qi 



Qh + <?v " Q t 



o, 



where: 



Q = Radiation absorbed in the ocean from the sun and 

 sky. This term represents both the radiation from the sun 

 incident on a unit horizontal surface and the diffuse radiation 

 from the sky, less the percentage of the two that is reflected. 

 This term is a function of the altitude of the sun, the cloudi- 

 ness, and the transparency of the atmosphere. 



17 



