Synoptic studies of transients in the Florida Current

The SYNOPS experiment was designed to study the changing vertical structure of the Florida Current, covering tidal and subinertial fluctuations. The emphasis in this paper is placed on the discussion of highly energetic quasi-barotropic waves with a time scale of several days. These waves are superimposed on the mean baroclinic profile of the Florida Current; thus, in the simplest case, the mean profile is just shifted parallel to itself. Since the mean downstream flow is close to zero in the lower layer, temporary deep southward flow results...

Low-frequency variability in the Florida Current and relations to atmospheric forcing from 1972 to 1974

Two-year records of temperature and current from a single subsurface mooring are demonstrated to be representative of the fluctuation spectrum of the Florida Current for time scales of several days to one or more years. The dominant subinertial motions occur in three period bands: from 8 to 25 days, 4 to 5 days, and 2 to 3 days. Simultaneous observations in a crossstream array reveal energy maxima in the same bands for all locations...

Der neue Forschungskutter "Alkor"

Es werden die Gründe dargelegt, die zum Bau von F.K. "ALKOR" führten, und die Anforderungen genannt, die an den Bau gestellt wurden. Die schiffs- und maschinenbauliche Ausführung, die elektrischen und speziell wissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen werden umrissen. Die beiden Bordlabors und ihre Spezialausstattung, die verschiedenen Winden und die Sondereinrichtungen werden beschrieben. Erste Erfahrungen mit dem Schiff werden aufgeführt. In this report the reasons are mentioned why the new research vessel "ALKOR" was built, and the requirements are outlined with which the ship should comply. A detailed description is given of the construction of the ship. Electrical and special scientific appliances are described. Both ship laboratories and their specific outfits, the various winches, and some special arrangements are discribed. First experiences with the ship are outlined

Zonal pressure gradient along the equatorial Atlantic

For three consecutive periods during the summer of 1974, ships of many nations made observations along the Atlantic equator as part of the GATE program [GARP (Global Atmospheric Research Program) Atlantic Tropical Experiment]. Combining these observations, it is found that the zonal pressure gradient over the central Atlantic at the surface and at 50 dbar, relative to 500 dbar, increased from 3.2 to 7.3 and 2.2 to 5.3 × 10-5 dynes/g respectively between June/July and August and then held close to the high values in September...

Somali Current rings in the eastern Gulf of Aden

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (2006): C09039, doi:10.1029/2005JC003338.New satellite-based observations reveal that westward translating anticyclonic rings are generated as a portion of the Somali Current accelerates northward through the Socotra Passage near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. Rings thus formed exhibit azimuthal geostrophic velocities exceeding 50 cm/s, are comparable in overall diameter to the width of the Gulf of Aden (250 km), and translate westward into the gulf at 5–8 cm/s. Ring generation is most notable in satellite ocean color imagery in November immediately following the transition between southwest (boreal summer) and northeast (winter) monsoon regimes. The observed rings contain anomalous fluid within their core which reflects their origin in the equator-crossing Somali Current system. Estimates of Socotra Passage flow variability derived from satellite altimetry provide evidence for a similar ring generation process in May following the winter-to-summer monsoon transition. Cyclonic recirculation eddies are observed to spin up on the eastern flank of newly formed rings with the resulting vortex pair translating westward together. Recent shipboard and Lagrangian observations indicate that vortices of both sign have substantial vertical extent and may dominate the lateral circulation at all depths in the eastern Gulf of Aden.This investigation is a component of the Red Sea Outflow Experiment (REDSOX) sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation through grants OCE 98-18464 and OCE 04-24647 to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and OCE 98-19506 and OCE 03-51116 to the University of Miami

Deutung der Besonderheiten im Massentransport der küstennahenStrömung im Golf von Neapel

Auf Grund langfristiger Registrierungen lassen sich die Strömungsverhältnisse an der Golfküste von Neapel als küstenparallele Grundströmung auffassen, der in periodischer oder nichtperiodischer Form Störungen überlagert sind. Es wird versucht, die EKMANSCHE Theorie des nichtstationären Triftstromes - unter Einbeziehung der horizontalen Reibung und einer Grundströmung - auf die küstenparallele Strömung zu erweitern. Im Gegensatz zu EKMAN, der bei einem konstant wirkenden Wind einen periodischen Massentransport erhält, strebt hier der Massentransport aperiodisch einem durch Reibung und Grundströmung bedingten Grenzwert zu. Außerdem erfolgt der Massentransport nicht senkrecht cum sole zur Windrichtung, sondern es ergeben sich in Abhängigkeit von Reibung und Grundstrom Winkel, die kleiner als 90° sind

Die Vertikalzirkulation in den küstennahen Gewässern des Arabischen Meeres während der Zeit des Nordostmonsuns

Although vertical velocities are very small, they are of great importance with regard to chemical and biological processes in the sea. A study of the circulation phenomena of down- and upward moving watet masses is not possible experimentally. Therefore, the vertical velocities were determined by means of a theoretical model using empirical data obtained by R. V. "Meteor" in the Arabian Sea, during the period of tbe NE-monsoon 1964/65. Based upon the observed data for the density the physical topography of the sea level was calculated by means of the dynamic method. The wind registrations during the hydrographic stations of R. V. "Meteor" show a very constant wind distribution of the NE-monsoon. The data of wind distribution, shapes of sea level and pycnocline were used in a simple two dimensional two layer model with two constant densities and two constant vertical eddy coefficients. The main results are presented in horizontal charts for four levels from O to 300 m for the African and for the Indian coast (plate 6 and 7). The charts show alternative strips of weak upward and downward movements parallel to the coast. The width of the strips varies from 30 to 80 km. There are three areas of intensified vertical velocities: south of the island of Socotra (profile III), south of the equator near the coast of Mombasa (profile VIII), and southerly from Karachi (profile XV). These results of stripwise distribution of upward and downward velocities are compared for one case with the distribution of particulate carbon, which shows a similar alternative distribution of minimum and maximum values (plate 8). Maximum velocities of 2 · 10-4 cm/sec occur in profile XV, in the layers between 100 and 200 m. On the other profiles velocities are less than 10-5 cm/sec. In all cases it was found that the vertical velocities reach a maximum well below the pycnocline, in order to decrease in either direction