Horizontal flux of nutrients and plankton across and along the British Columbia continental margin

We report rate estimates for the horizontal transport of realized and potential “new” production across and along the Vancouver Island continental margin. Measurements consisted of three summer-season surveys (1993–1995) of water properties, chlorophyll and dissolved nutrient concentrations, zooplankton biomass and community composition. Sampling was done along paired 350-km station lines extending parallel to and approximately 25 km seaward of the shelf break. Horizontal transport of nutrients and plankton biomass was estimated from cross-products of concentration fields with cross-shore and alongshore geostrophic velocity fields and with space- and time-averaged estimates of Ekman volume transport. Because concentrations of nutrients and phytoplankton were low in the upper 30–50 m, their horizontal flux within the Ekman layer was relatively small (order 10% of geostrophic transport). Geostrophic transport was strongly localized and was correlated vertically with concentration gradients, and horizontally with eddies and meanders of the alongshore geostrophic currents. Net geostrophic transport was a small difference between larger localized seaward and shoreward components. Upper layer (0–50 m) transports of nutrients and phytoplankton biomass were of roughly similar magnitude. Both were much larger than transport of zooplankton biomass. Total cross-shore flux was a small fraction (<10%) of the estimated total productivity shoreward of the sampling lines. Direction and magnitude varied among survey periods, but for all 1990s surveys appear to have been weaker than in the mid-1980s, when summer-season averaged upwelling-favorable winds were stronger and the shelf-break current was faster.     

Accuracy Assessment of Jason-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON Along-Track Sea Surface Slope

Sea surface slope computed from along-track Jason-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter data at ocean mesoscale wavelengths are compared to determine the equivalent 1 Hz instrument height noise of the Poseidon-2 and TOPEX altimeters. This geophysical evaluation shows that the Ku-band 1-Hz range noise for both instruments is better than 1.7 cm at 2 m significant wave heights (H_1/3), exceeding error budget requirements for both missions. Furthermore, we show that the quality of these instruments allows optimal filtering of the 1-Hz along-track sea surface height data for sea surface slopes that can be used to calculate cross track geostrophic velocity anomalies at the baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation to better than 5 cm/sec precision along 87.5% of the satellite ground track between 2 and 60 degrees absolute latitude over the deep abyssal ocean (depths greater than 1000 m). This level of precision will facilitate scientific studies of surface geostrophic velocity variability using data from the Jason-1 and T/P Tandem Mission.     

Estimating the geostrophic velocity obtained by HF radar observations in the upstream area of the Kuroshio

A method to extract geostrophic current in the daily mean HF radar data in the Kuroshio upstream region is established by comparison with geostrophic velocity determined from the along-track altimetry data. The estimated Ekman current in the HF velocity is 1.2% (1.5%) and 48° (38°)-clockwise rotated with respect to the daily mean wind in (outside) the Kuroshio. Furthermore, additional temporal smoothing is found necessary to remove residual ageostrophic currents such as the inertial oscillation. After removal of the ageostrophic components, the HF geostrophic velocity agrees well with that from the altimetry data with rms difference 0.14 (0.12) m/s in (outside) the Kuroshio.     

Accuracy Assessment of Jason-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON Along-Track Sea Surface Slope Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

Sea surface slope computed from along-track Jason-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter data at ocean mesoscale wavelengths are compared to determine the equivalent 1 Hz instrument height noise of the Poseidon-2 and TOPEX altimeters. This geophysical evaluation shows that the Ku-band 1-Hz range noise for both instruments is better than 1.7 cm at 2 m significant wave heights (H_1/3), exceeding error budget requirements for both missions. Furthermore, we show that the quality of these instruments allows optimal filtering of the 1-Hz along-track sea surface height data for sea surface slopes that can be used to calculate cross track geostrophic velocity anomalies at the baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation to better than 5 cm/sec precision along 87.5% of the satellite ground track between 2 and 60 degrees absolute latitude over the deep abyssal ocean (depths greater than 1000 m). This level of precision will facilitate scientific studies of surface geostrophic velocity variability using data from the Jason-1 and T/P Tandem Mission.     

Airborne Gravimetry Survey for the Marine Area of the United Arab Emirates

The Military Survey Department (MSD) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) undertook an airborne gravity survey project for the marine area of the country in 2009, especially to strengthen the marine and coastal geoid in the near-shore regions. For the airborne gravity survey, 5 km spacing coast-parallel flight lines were planned and surveyed. These lines were supplemented by cross-lines in order to assess the quality of the airborne gravity surveys. The flight lines were extended 10 km, spacing lines further offshore. A Beech King Air 350 aircraft was used for the surveys, collecting data at a typical flight speed of 170 knots and a typical flight elevation of 900–1500 m, depending on weather conditions and topography. Gravity was measured with a ZLS-modified LaCoste and Romberg gravimeter (S-99), augmented with a Honeywell strap-down inertial navigation system unit. The estimated accuracy for the airborne gravity data is better than 2.0 mGal r.m.s., as judged from the airborne track crossovers. The new airborne gravimetry data changed the UAE coastal geoid by up to 30 cm in some regions, highlighting the importance of airborne gravity coastal surveys.     

Comparison of Kuroshio surface velocities derived from satellite altimeter and drifting buoy data

Sea-surface geostrophic velocities for the Kuroshio region calculated from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry data together within situ oceanographic data are compared with surface velocities derived from drifting buoy trajectories. The geostrophic velocities agree well with the observed velocities, suggesting that the Kuroshio surface layer is essentially in geostrophic balance, within measurement error. The comparison is improved a little when the centrifugal acceleration is taken into account. The observed velocities are divided into the temporal mean and fluctuation components, and the partitioning of velocities between these two components is examined. For the Kuroshio region, most of the fluctuation components of the velocities derived from drifting buoys are found to be positive. This result suggests that Eulerian mean velocities for the Kuroshio region estimated from drifting buoy data tend to be larger than actual means, due to the buoy’s tendency to sample preferentially in the high-velocity Kuroshio.     

南海 18°N 断面 上的体积和热盐输运

以2005—2008年4年中南海北部开放航次所获得的水文观测资料为基础,结合卫星高度计遥感资料,采用动力计算方法计算南海18°N断面的经向地转流,并与声学多普勒流速剖面仪(Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers,ADCP)走航观测资料进行对比,进而计算出通过南海18°N断面1000m以浅的各站位以及断面上总的经向地转体积、热、盐输运量。结果表明,2005—2008年南海北部开放航次期间18°N断面上的经向地转流呈相间带状分布,各站位经向地转流流速垂向分布和ADCP观测的大体一致。从卫星高度计获得的海面高度场可知,经向地转流流向的空间变化与海洋中尺度涡旋的活动密切相关。2005—2007年航次期间南海18°N断面上1000m以浅总的经向地转体积、热、盐输运均为南向输运,其3年的平均输运量分别为11.8Sv(1Sv=106m3.s 1)、0.38PW、418.8Gg.s 1;其年际间差别较大,经向地转体积、热、盐输运量均为2005年最大,2006年次之,2007年最小。2008年110°—117°E之间1000m以浅总的海水地转体积、热、盐输运量分别为7.3Sv、0.22PW、259.4Gg.s 1。     

海翼水下滑翔机测流应用

水下滑翔机其通过集成生物、化学、物理传感器可以测量如温度、盐度、溶解氧等多种海洋基础水文要素,其利用卫星定位系统获得实际出水速度和理论出水模型获得理论出水速度之差可以计算深度平均流,。本文利用海翼水下滑翔机获得温盐场及卫星定位数据评估深度平均流,结果显示利用温盐场获得深度平均地转流与水下滑翔机获得深度平均流相关系数0.95,表明其流场的一致性,同时根据船载观测ADCP误差分析法估算深度平均流误差约为0.036 m/s。借助深度平均流可以估算绝对地转流,包括正压地转流和斜压地转流。在零动力面的假设下,我们选取了海翼号水下滑翔机在南海的一组实验对流量误差进行了评估。该实验为2019年1月3日-2月16日海翼号水下滑翔机自南向北穿越西沙群岛附近一个中尺度涡观测。观测结果表明,该中尺度涡为冷涡流核,在涡心以南,绝对地转流为东向流,最大流速约为0.48 m/s;涡心以北,绝对地转流为西向流,最大流速约为0.47 m/s,稍弱于南侧。受不均匀时空观测计划影响,本文未对流量做出估计。     

Direct Current Measurements off Sanriku, East of Japan

One year records of four current meters moored at two sites off Sanriku (39°26′ N, 142°45′ E and 143°E) have been analyzed. Mean currents flowed southward to southwestward with velocity 2.5–7.8 cm s⁻¹. The geostrophic velocity appeared to be surface-intensified, and the flows at 500 m depth have a relationship with the 100 m depth temperature distribution, suggesting the influence of the upper layer flows. At a depth of 1500 m and 2500 m, southward to southwestward flows are thought to be a part of the current flowing southward on the western flank of the Japan Trench. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seismic velocities on the Nova Scotian margin to estimate gas hydrate and free gas concentrations

This article provides new constraints on gas hydrate and free gas concentrations in the sediments at the margin off Nova Scotia. Two-dimensional (2-D) velocity models were constructed through simultaneous travel-time inversion of ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) data and 2-D single-channel seismic (SCS) data acquired in two surveys, in 2004 and 2006. The surveys, separated by ∼5 km, were carried out in regions where the bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) was identified in seismic reflection datasets from earlier studies and address the question of whether the BSR is a good indicator of significant gas hydrate on the Scotian margin. For both datasets, velocity increases by 200–300 m/s at a depth of approximately 220 m below seafloor (mbsf), but the results of the 2006 survey show a smaller velocity decrease (50–80 m/s) at the base of this high-velocity layer (310–330 mbsf) than the results of the 2004 survey (130 m/s). When converted to gas hydrate concentrations using effective medium theory, the 2-D velocity models for both datasets show a gas hydrate layer of ∼100 m thickness above the identified BSR. Gas hydrate concentrations are estimated at approximately 2–10% for the 2006 data and 8–18% for the 2004 survey. The reduction in gas hydrate concentration relative to the distance from the Mohican Channel structure is most likely related to the low porosity within the mud-dominant sediment at the depth of the BSR. Free gas concentrations were calculated to be 1–2% of the sediment pore space for both datasets.     

Geopotential topography of deep levels in the Pacific Ocean

After examination of the baroclinic structure below 3000 db, recent data were used to map the geopotential topography at 1000, 1500, and 2000 db (referred to 3000 db) in the Pacific Ocean. In the high-latitude regions and in the western boundary currents, considerable relief is present at 1000 and 1500 db, and the Circumpolar Current is still well-developed at 2000 db. The geostrophic circulation inferred is very similar to the surface circulation in these areas. Neglect of the structure below 1000 db results in appreciable errors in estimates of the transport of these currents; direction of near-surface flow is properly shown, however, and computed speeds are not greatly in error. In the equatorial Pacific and central North Pacific, little relief is present, and the trends are generally unlike the surface flow.     

Solitons northeast of Tung-Sha Island during the ASIAEX pilot studies

In a recent study, satellite images have shown that internal solitons are active in the northern South China Sea (SCS). During the Asian Seas International Acoustic Experiment (ASIAEX) pilot studies, current profiler and thermistor chain moorings were deployed in the spring of 1999 and 2000 to investigate internal solitons northeast of Tung-Sha Island on the continental slope of the northern SCS. Most of the observed internal solitons were first baroclinic mode depression waves. The largest horizontal current velocity, vertical displacement, and temperature variation induced by the internal solitons were around 240 cm/s, 106 m, and 11/spl deg/C, respectively, while the estimated nonlinear phase speed was primarily westward at 152 /spl plusmn/ 4 cm/s. The observed internal solitons could be categorized as four types. The first type is the incoming wave from deep water and can be described reasonably well with the KdV equation. The second and third types are in the transition zone before and close to the turning point (where the upper and lower layer depths are equal), respectively. These two types of solitons were generally near the wave-breaking stage. The fourth type of soliton is a second baroclinic mode and probably was locally generated. The time evolutions are asymmetric, especially at the middle depths. A temperature kink following the main pulse of the soliton is often seen. Higher order nonlinear and shallow topographic effects could be the primary cause for these features. The appearance/disappearance of internal solitons coincides mostly with spring/neap tide. The internal soliton is irregularly seen during the neap tide period and its amplitude is generally small. The time interval between two leading solitons is generally around 12 h. The first baroclinic mode of the semidiurnal tide has a larger amplitude than the diurnal tide and could redistribute its energy into the soliton.     

Variability of Northeastward Current Southeast of Northern Ryukyu Islands

To better understand the mechanism underlying the variation of the Kuroshio south of central Japan, we have examined the variability of current structure in its upstream region, southeast of Amami-Ohshima Island in the northern Ryukyu Islands. By combined use of ship-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter data on Path 214, the sea surface absolute geostrophic currents were estimated every ten days from January 1998 to July 2002. The 4.5-year mean surface current was found to flow northeastward north of 26.8°N with a maximum speed of 14 cm s⁻¹ over the shelf slope at 3000 m depth. The moored current-meter observations at three or four mooring stations from Dec. 1998 to Oct. 2002 suggested the existence of a northeastward undercurrent with a maximum core velocity of 23 cm s⁻¹ at 600 m depth over the shelf slope at 1600 m depth. The mean volume transport in the top 1500 m between 27.9°N and 26.7°N is estimated to be 16 × 10⁶ m³s⁻¹ northeastward, including the subsurface core current related component of 4 × 10⁶ m³s⁻¹. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Current Dynamics of Estuarine Circulation in the Lateral Boundary Layer

High spatial resolution measurements of current velocity performed by the shipboard mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) in the lateral boundary layer of the southern Gulf of Finland during two 5-day periods are described and analysed with a focus on the dominant dynamics. The measurement site represents a small (15×20 km), relatively deep (up to 100 m) bay opened to large-scale estuarine circulation. The measurement period was characterized by calm winds and a strong seasonal pycnocline (Brunt-Väisälä frequencyN=6–9*10⁻² s⁻¹). The quasi-steady velocity field revealed polarization of currents along the shore whereas an intensive baroclinic coastal jet was observed over a cross-shore scale of 1–2 km. The level of vertical separation of the alongshore flow coincided with the pycnocline at the coast, but was shifted below it in the offshore region. The cross-shore flow was considerably weaker and showed a three-layer structure with an opposite phase between the first and second surveys. It is suggested that the observed jet resembles a non-locally forced eastward propagating coastally trapped wave. In the offshore area the alongshore flow field satisfies local geostrophic balance quite well, except in the pycnocline where strong vertical stratification exerts considerable vertical stress. As vertical velocity shear is well correlated with vertical stratification, the horizontal advection prevails over vertical mixing. Horizontal inhomogeneities of density distribution are partly explained by vertical velocities with an estimated magnitude of less than 0·6 mm/s and the spatial pattern following bottom topography.     

Seasonal variations of the surface currents in the Tsushima Strait

Seasonal variations of the surface currents in the Tsushima Strait were investigated by analyzing the monthly mean surface currents measured with HF radar. Several new features of the surface currents have been found. One notable feature is the large, complicated seasonal variation in the current structure in the eastern channel of the strait. For example, in the southeastern and northwestern regions of the channel, southwestward countercurrents are found in summer while southeastward acrossshore currents are found in autumn and winter. The wind-driven flow (Ekman flow) as well as surface geostrophic currents are responsible for these complicated variations of the surface currents. To quantify each variation of the flow and current, the wind-driven flow was calculated from the monthly wind (more precisely, the friction velocity) using the monthly speed factor and deflection angle estimated in our previous study, and the surface geostrophic currents were then estimated by subtracting the wind-driven flow from the measured surface currents. It was found that the acrossshore currents are the wind-driven flow, and that the surface geostrophic currents flow almost in the along-shore direction, indicating the validity of the decomposition of the surface velocity into the wind-driven flow and the geostrophic currents using the speed factor and deflection angle. A real-vector empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the surface geostrophic currents shows a pair of eddies in the lee of Tsushima and Iki Islands as the first mode, which indicates that the southwestward countercurrents in the eastern channel are formed primarily by the incoming Tsushima Warm Current.     

Evidence for water exchange between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean through the Luzon Strait

An analysis of historical oxygen data provides evidence on the water exchange between theSouth China Sea (SCS) and the Pacific Ocean (PO). In the vicinity of the Luzon Strait (LS) , the dissolved oxygen concentration of sea water is found to be lower on the Pacific side than on the SCS side at depths between 700 and 1500 m (intermediate layer) , while the situation is reversed above 700 m (upper layer) and below 1 500 m (deep layer). The evidence suggests that water exits the SCS in the intermediate layer but enters it from the Pacific in both the upper and the deep layers, supporting the earlier speculation that the Luzon Strait transport has a sandwiched structure in the vertical. Within the SCS basin, the oxygen distribution indicates widespread vertical movement, including the upwelling in the intermediate layer and the downwelling in the deep layer.     

Vertical structure of the field of current velocities in the northwest part of the Black Sea based on the <Emphasis Type="Italic">LADCP</Emphasis> data for May 2004

The profiles of absolute current velocity obtained by using a lowered acoustic doppler current profiler (LADCP) are presented. In the course of the BSERP-3 expedition, the measurements were carried out in the regions of the Rim Current, anticyclonic eddy, and northwest shelf. In the core of the Rim Current, a unidirectional motion of waters is traced in layers below the main pycnocline down to depths greater than 500 m. Its characteristic velocity can be as high as 0.08 m/sec. It is shown that the direct action of the eddy is detected in the shelf region at distances larger than 20 km from the outer edge of the shelf in the zone bounded by an isobath of 100 m. The formation of multilayer vertical structures in the field of current velocities is revealed in the region of interaction of the anticyclonic eddy with irregularities of the bottom on the side of the shelf. A two-layer structure of currents with specific features in the layer of formed seasonal pycnocline is observed in the region of the shelf down to an isobath of 100 m. The profiles of the moduli of vertical shears of currents averaged over the casts ensemble are presented for the abyssal and shelf parts of the sea. It is shown that the shears induced by the geostrophic currents and wave processes in the region of the main pycnocline are comparable. Below the pycnocline, the shears are mainly determined by the wave processes. Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 6, pp. 25–37, November–December, 2008.     

加利福尼亚流系流场的季节性演变

本文利用三维数值模型(ROMS-Co Si NE)分析了整个加利福尼亚流系水平流场的季节性演变过程,研究了美国加州中部海域流场垂直结构的季节性变化特征,并探讨了其动力学机制。研究发现:(1)数值模型能够较为准确的模拟流场的季节性变化,与浮标观测数据以及前人的研究结果符合良好;(2)从表层到200m,加利福尼亚潜流向高纬度扩张,近岸上升流急流则向高纬度撤退,加州南部海域的中尺度涡更显著;(3)在加州中部海域,近岸急流的最大值(约15cm/s)发生在夏季,位于近岸的表层海域;加利福尼亚潜流最大值(约4cm/s)发生于冬季,出现在离岸100km的125m处;加利福尼亚流在春季达到全年最大值(约5cm/s),流轴位于离岸(400—600km)的表层海水。加利福尼亚流系的流场具有显著的季节性变化,研究进一步表明这主要受地转关系调控。     

基于FVCOM的泉州湾海域三维潮汐与潮流数值模拟

基于FVCOM海洋数值模式,采用非结构的三角形网格和有限体积法,建立了泉州湾海域高分辨率(26 m)的三维潮汐、潮流数值模型。模拟结果同2个验潮站和3个连续测流站的观测资料符合良好,较好地反映了泉州湾内潮汐、潮流运动的变化状况和分布特征,给出了M₂、S₂、K₁、O₁ 4个主要分潮的同潮图、表层潮流椭圆分布,以及模拟区域内最大可能潮差、表层最大可能潮流流速和潮余流分布。分析表明,4个分潮的最大潮汐振幅和迟角差分别为219 cm和19°,85 cm和25°,26 cm和12°,26 cm和9°;石湖港以东海域的潮波为逆时针旋转的驻波,以西海域为前进波;最大可能潮差由湾口的8.0m向湾内增加至8.8 m。湾内潮流类型为规则半日潮流,落潮最大流速大于涨潮最大流速,北乌礁水道为强流区,表层最大可能潮流流速为2.4 m/s;湾口潮流运动以逆时针方向的旋转流形式为主,湾内的潮流运动以往复流形式为主,长轴走向主要沿着水道方向,与等深线和海岸线平行;四个分潮流表层最大流速分别为1.4 m/s,0.58 m/s,0.12 m/s,0.10 m/s。余流流速大小与潮流强弱有密切的联系,表、中、底层最大余流流速分别为26 cm/s,20 cm/s,16 cm/s,三者在水平方向基本呈北进南出的分布形态。     

Diagnostic analysis of the 3D ageostrophic circulation from a multivariate spatial interpolation of CTD and ADCP data

A multivariate (MV) optimal statistical interpolation method is applied to conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) and ship-mounted acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) data from quasi-synoptic oceanographic surveys. MV analysis aims to improve the spatial interpolation of any particular variable (e.g., dynamic height) by including in the analysis observations of other physically related variables (e.g., current). The version used in this work also provides estimates of the non-divergent and irrotational components of the flow. The method is tested in a sharp frontal region to the north of the Western Alborán gyre. After deriving the optimal analysis parameters, we first show that MV statistical dynamic height analysis errors are significantly smaller than those derived from univariate (UV) analysis. In our region, this translates in a more realistic shape for the geostrophic relative vorticity and the vertical velocity field. The latter peaks at about 45 m/day (as given by the quasi-geostrophic omega equation), with a tendency for light water to be upwelled upstream of the gyre while denser water is downwelled downstream of the gyre. For the horizontal velocity we show the existence of large (up to 40 cm/s) ageostrophic velocities. These are mainly non-divergent and can be explained by the cyclostrophic acceleration induced by the anticyclonic gyre. The irrotational velocity component is of the order of 10 cm/s towards the dense side of the front. The robustness of the method is checked by means of several tests that evaluate the sensitivity of results with respect to the synopticity of the data, the analysis parameters, the reference level and the presence of tidal or inertial currents.