Accession Number:

ADA279665

Title:

Synthesizing the Gulf Stream Thermal Structure from XBT Data

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MA DEPT OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Personal Author(s):

• Hall, Melinda M.

Report Date:

1994-02-14

Pagination or Media Count:

32.0

Abstract:

Thirty-six XBT temperature profiles have been used in a parametric model introduced by Hendry to model the Gulf Streams thermal structure at 65 deg W between 200 and 1200 dbar, with an rms residual error of 0.56 deg C. Velocity has been computed geostrophically relative to 1200 dbar, and has been included in calculating potential vorticity analytically from the model. The resulting potential vorticity section for 65 deg W has been compared with the analogous result from Hendrys parametric model at 59 deg W, as well as observed potential vorticity sections from 68 deg to 55 deg W. There is a significant feature in the potential vorticity structure at 65 deg W not found at 59 deg W, namely a relative minimum in potential vorticity along isopycnals, centered at the Gulf Streams axis and 350 dbar. The modelled potential vorticity sections are consistent with the observations, including the downstream disappearance of this feature. The dynamical implications of these results are briefly discussed.

Descriptors:

• *VORTICES
• *GULF STREAM
• *THERMOCLINES
• VELOCITY
• TEMPERATURE
• PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
• RESIDUALS
• EXPENDABLE
• BATHYTHERMOGRAPHS
• HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING
• CROSSINGS
• PROFILES
• OBSERVATION
• STRUCTURES

Subject Categories:

• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE