Near-surface recirculation over Georges Bank

Satellite-tracked drifters with drogues centered near-surface (5 m) and below the seasonal thermocline (50 m) were launched during late winter and spring of 1988 and 1989 in the northern Great South Channel in the western Gulf of Maine to investigate the regional circulation as part of the South Channel Ocean Productivity Experiment (SCOPEX). Many of the near-surface drifters became entrained in the clockwise gyre over Georges Bank, and eight drifters made a total of 16 complete circuits around the bank during the stratified season. The average recirculation period of these eight drifters was 48 days, and the average drifter speed around the bank was 12 cm s⁻¹. There is no clear evidence from the drifter data that the strength of the clockwise gyre over the bank increased with time during the stratified season. On average, these drifters (i) followed a relatively narrow path around the bank, except over the eastern end of the bank where three preferred paths were observed, (ii) moved fastest over the northern and southern flanks of the bank, (iii) did not enter a core area of 3500 km² centered at 41°17′N, 68°00′W, approximately 30 km southwest of the topographic center of the bank, and (iv) stopped circling the bank by the end of November, due in part to strong wind events that appeared to drive drifters off the bank. Curiously, none of the near-surface drifters moved from the southern flank of Georges Bank onto the New England shelf as might be expected from continuity of flow along the outer shelf; instead, the drifters that circled the bank tended to move off the bank along its southern flank. None of the drifters with drogues centered at 50 m appeared to recirculate around Georges Bank.     

Long-term moored array measurements of currents and hydrography over Georges Bank: 1994–1999

In conjunction with the GLOBEC (Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics) program, measurements of moored currents, temperature and salinity were made during 1994–1999 at locations in 76 m of water along the southern flank of Georges Bank and at the Northeastern Peak. The measurements concentrate on the biologically crucial winter and spring periods, and coverage during the fall is usually poorer.Current time series were completely dominated by the semidiurnal M₂ tidal component, while other tidal species (including the diurnal K₁ component) were also important. There was a substantial wind-driven component of the flow, which was linked, especially during the summer, to regional–scale response patterns. The current response at the Northeast Peak was especially strong in the 3–4 days period band, and this response is shown to be related to an amplifying topographic wave propagating eastward along the northern flank. Monthly mean flows on the southern flank are southwestward throughout the year, but strongest in the summertime. The observed tendency for summertime maximum along-bank flow to occur at depth is rationalized in terms of density gradients associated with a near-surface freshwater tongue wrapping around the Bank.Temperature and salinity time series demonstrate the presence, altogether about 25% of the time, of a number of intruding water masses. These intrusions could last anywhere from a couple days up to about a month. The sources of these intrusions can be broadly classified as the Scotian Shelf (especially during the winter), the Western Gulf of Maine (especially during the summer), and the deeper ocean south of Georges Bank (throughout the year). On longer time scales, the temperature variability is dominated by seasonal temperature changes. During the spring and summer, these changes are balanced by local heating or cooling, but wintertime cooling involves advective lateral transports as well. Salinity variations have weak, if any, seasonal variability, but are dominated by interannual changes that are related to regional- or basin-scale changes.All considered, Georges Bank temperature and salinity characteristics are found to be highly dependent on the surrounding waters, but many questions remain, especially in terms of whether intrusive events leave a sustained impact on Bank waters.     

Atmospheric Internal Gravity Waves Caused by Tsunamis over Kuril Islands

MODIS (Aqua and Terra) space images of the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean at instants of considerable tsunamis in 2009–2011 have been analyzed. Periodic cloud structures typical for internal gravity waves (IGWs) in the atmosphere have been revealed in the region of the Kuril Islands in five cases. It has been shown that the meteorological conditions observed during those events favored the appearance of such phenomena. The continuous oceanic upwelling in the region of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench is a favorable factor for IGW generation due to the creation of temperature contrasts observed both in warm and cold seasons between the ground layer of the atmosphere and ocean surface. The estimate of the structure of cloud manifestations of atmospheric waves by satellite images testifies also to the influence of the Kuril Ridge orography on their appearance and propagation over the water area under study. The increase in amplitudes and duration of oscillations caused by the tsunami in the shelf zone can be an auxiliary factor for the IGW generation over coastal territories.     

Gravity anomalies over inactive fracture zones in the central North Atlantic

The basement topography and the free-air gravity along two profiles in the central North Atlantic between 16° and 25° N, crossing a number of fracture zones, were divided in three wavelength intervals. Two-dimensional modelling shows that the short wavelength (>50 km) gravity is well explained by uncompensated topography (mainly spreading topography). For the long wavelengths (>200 km) there is no correlation of topography and gravity. In principle this topography is compensated. Residual anomalies comprise the Ridge effect as well as regional anomalies related to depth anomalies. The 50 to 200km band-pass filtered topography and gravity contain relevant information on fracture zones. Models require a base of the crust that parallels the topography rather than a form of regional compensation. For an explanation of this crustal model that has the appearance of frozen in normal faults we have to consider the typical morphology as created in the transform domain. The geophysical processes that cause this morphology are still an object of study.     

Gravity crustal models and heat flow measurements for the Eurasia Basin,Arctic Ocean

The Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean with its adjacent Nansen and Amundsen Basins is a key region for the study of mantle melting and crustal generation at ultraslow spreading rates. We use free-air gravity anomalies in combination with seismic reflection and wide-angle data to compute 2-D crustal models for the Nansen and Amundsen Basins in the Arctic Ocean. Despite the permanent pack-ice cover two geophysical transects cross both entire basins. This means that the complete basin geometry of the world’s slowest spreading system can be analysed in detail for the first time. Applying standard densities for the sediments and oceanic crystalline crust, the gravity models reveal an unexpected heterogeneous mantle with densities of 3.30 × 10³, 3.20 × 10³ and 3.10 × 10³ kg/m³ near the Gakkel Ridge. We interpret that the upper mantle heterogeneity mainly results from serpentinisation and thermal effects. The thickness of the oceanic crust is highly variable throughout both transects. Crustal thickness of less than 1 km dominates in the oldest parts of both basins, increasing to a maximum value of 6 km near the Gakkel Ridge. Along-axis heat flow is highly variable and heat flow amplitudes resemble those observed at fast or intermediate spreading ridges. Unexpectedly, high heat flow along the Amundsen transect exceeds predicted values from global cooling curves by more than 100%.     

Estimation of winds over the sea from land-based measurements

Simultaneous measurements of wind velocities at two different sites, one over the sea and the other over land, can differ substantially and therefore cannot be interchanged. In situations where the wind data at an offshore site are missing while simultaneous measurements from a land-based station exist, a linear mean-square estimation (LMSE) technique can be used to estimate the missing data. This technique relies on past wind data gathered simultaneously at the two locations, and it generates from the associated correlation a set of four transfer functions capable of predicting one data set from the other. In the present case, the LMSE technique is outlined briefly, and is then applied to construct seasonal transfer functions between a land-based station and two coastal/offshore sites in Kuwait. Comparisons between the actually observed wind characteristics and those predicted by the LMSE technique are favorable, and thus tend to confirm the applicability of the technique under appropriate conditions.     

Gravity surveys over the Reykjanes Ridge and between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands

A regional survey of the southern Reykjanes Ridge (52°N to 57°N) shows an irregular topography: a rift valley which is only partly recognizable as such, with varying azimuth and some fracturezone-like interruptions. The survey also comprised gravity and magnetic measurements.The course of the axis as well as the perpendicular fractures show up well in the free air anomalies as relative troughs within an area of positive free air gravity (Figure 5). There is no indication of density variations within the topographic masses.The anomaly pattern of total magnetic intensity indicates the exact position of the rift axis and a bifurcation at about 55°N. From the parallel magnetic anomalies south of 55°N (Figure 2) a spreading rate can be deduced of 1.10 cm/yr perpendicular to the rift axis (Figure 3). This spreading rate is at the same time the plate movement involved.A survey of the Iceland-Faeroe Ridge with a 3–5 miles grid shows large gravity and magnetic anomalies over a smooth topography, indicating large pockets of light material, probably of volcanic origin. These areas have normal magnetization. Positive gravity anomalies forming a ring structure along the 200 m isobath are characterized by reversed magnetization.The dissimilarity in morphology, seismicity and inner structure between the two ridges that intersect in Iceland suggest that there is no relation between the two phenomena.Paper presented at the meeting of the International Gravity Commission, Paris, on September 8, 1970.     

Measurements of boundary-layer flow and boundary roughness over Campeche Bank, Yucatan

Aseries of boundary-layer measurements was made at three anchor stations on Campeche Bank, Yucatan. Measurements consisted of current speed at six levels within 1.5 m of the bed, current direction, and stereophotographs of boundary. Analysis of the drag coefficient revealed that the boundary-layer flow was hydrodynamically transitional and the magnitude of the drag coefficient varied between 2·10⁻³ and 6·10⁻² as a function of the flow conditions and bed configuration. These data appear to be representative of flows of an intermediate nature, not only in the observed variations of the drag coefficient with respect to Reynolds number but in the way that the drag coefficient correlates with other measurements made in low- and high-velocity environments, respectively.     

Atmospheric trace gas measurements during SEEDS-II over the northwestern pacific

Atmospheric trace gas measurements were conducted during SEEDS-II. Atmospheric dimethylsulfide (DMS) was continuously measured by GC-MS during the R/V Hakuho cruise. Further, ambient air was sampled into canisters (42 samples) and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID for various biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after the cruise. CO, O₃, SO₂, and NOx were monitored continuously aboard the ship.A fertilization experiment was conducted in a high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) region (48°N, 165°E). The atmospheric concentrations inside a patch (fertilized area) were compared with those outside it (natural area); however, clear differences were not observed for biogenic trace gasses (DMS, CH₃Cl, CH₃I, isoprene, and alkenes) in the atmosphere. However, a high DMS concentration was observed over the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The fertilized area was also observed by R/V Kilo Moana, and DMS was measured by GC-FPD. A good agreement was observed between the results of the measurements made aboard the two independent ships by different measurement methods.The atmospheric SO₂ concentration was compared with the atmospheric DMS concentration. The SO₂ concentration was found to vary with the atmospheric DMS concentration. A diurnal variation of the atmospheric DMS concentration was observed around the fertilized region. The DMS content tends to increase during the night and decrease during the day. A box model calculation was conducted to explain the diurnal variation of the atmospheric DMS. Since there was no diurnal variation of the wind speed, a constant DMS flux from the ocean surface was assumed. Further, the atmospheric OH radical concentration was assumed to be dependent on sunlight. The box model can roughly reproduce the atmospheric DMS diurnal variation mainly caused by its removal reaction with OH radicals.     

Preliminary results of measurements of atmospheric turbulence over the sea

We perform the experimental verification of the applicability of the theory of similarity to the wave boundary layer and the assessment of wave-induced perturbations of the air flow depending on various conditions of stratification of the atmosphere and the state of the sea. The measurements were carried out from a stationary platform located in the coastal part of the Black Sea. The experimental procedure is based on the simultaneous measurements of the profile and fluctuations of the wind speed at 5–6 levels in the 1.3–21-m layer, the elevations of the sea surface, the directions of waves and winds, and the mean gradients of temperature and humidity of air. The structure of the boundary layer in the region of measurements depends on the direction of the wind. For weak and moderate onshore winds (< 9 m/sec), the approximate balance is preserved between the production and dissipation of turbulent energy in the cases of unstable and neutral stratification. On the average, the estimates of friction velocity according to the profiles are higher than the dissipative estimates by 10% mainly due to the deficiency of dissipation near the surface. For the offshore wind, the structure of the boundary layer abruptly changes and is determined not by the local parameters but by strong turbulent eddies formed over the dry land. The intensity of low-frequency turbulent fluctuations and the gradient of wind velocity near the surface in the coastal zone are 1.5–2 times higher than for the open sea. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 3, pp. 42–61, May–June, 2007.     

Validation of ERS-1 and High-Resolution Satellite Gravity with in-situ Shipborne Gravity over the Indian Offshore Regions: Accuracies and Implications to Subsurface Modeling

Geoid and gravity anomalies derived from satellite altimetry are gradually gaining importance in marine geoscientific investigations. Keeping this in mind, we have validated ERS-1 (168 day repeat) altimeter data and very high-resolution free-air gravity data sets generated from Seasat, Geosat GM, ERS-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeters data with in-situ shipborne gravity data of both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea regions for the purpose of determining the consistencies and deviations. The RMS errors between high resolution satellite and ship gravity data vary from 2.7 to 6.0 mGal, while with ERS-1 data base the errors are as high as 16.5 mGal. We also have generated high resolution satellite gravity maps of different regions over the Indian offshore, which eventually have become much more accurate in extracting finer geological structures like 85° E Ridge, Swatch of no ground, Bombay High in comparison with ERS-1satellite-derived gravity maps. Results from the signal processing related studies over two specific profiles in the eastern and western offshore also clearly show the advantage of high resolution satellite gravity compared to the ERS-1 derived gravity with reference to ship gravity data.     

重力梯度张量计算重力场元

根据体谐函数一阶、二阶水平导数（广义球函数）也是球面正交函数系的性质,详细推导了水平重力梯度边值问题的级数解.根据扰动位与重力场元的微分关系,导出了由水平重力梯度计算重力异常、垂线偏差的公式.完善了全张量重力梯度的有关应用.     

Bed shear stress measurements over a smooth bed in three-dimensional wave-current motion

Wave and current experiments have been carried out with the purpose of measuring the instantaneous bed shear stress over a hydraulically smooth bed, in order to evaluate the extent of the interaction. Measurements have been carried out with a dual-component hot-film probe which, with some constraints, enables the magnitude and direction of the instantaneous bed shear stress to be measured. Results are presented as maximum obtained bed shear stress values over one cycle and the corresponding mean value in the direction of the current for various combinations of waves and current.     

Experimental measurements of solitary wave attenuation over shallow and intermediate submerged canopy

Attenuations of solitary wave over a patch of submerged canopy are experimentally investigated. The submerged canopy is modeled by a group of circular cylinder array. The decay coefficients of different wave heights in two water depths along the wave flume are measured for six canopy models, including two canopy heights and three styles of arrangements. The relationships among the decay coefficient, and the dimensionless wave height, submergence ratio, relative height and arrangement of the canopy are experimentally studied. 2D PIV technique is employed to measure the representative flow field inside the canopy. A four-deck flow structure is proposed for wave flow field over shallow submerged canopy. The characteristics of shear flow inside the aligned canopy region are discussed.     

利用卫星重力梯度恢复局部地球重力场的研究进展

简述了SGG数据恢复局部重力场的理论本质以及卫星重力梯度边值问题;详细介绍了当前国内外利用SGG进行局部重力场求解的研究进展,并将已有的求解方法总结归纳为三类：模型法、计算法和组合法,同时对各种方法的概念和研究现状作了详细介绍;最后总结了SGG数据求解局部重力场的发展前景和思考建议。     

Gravity at sea

This is a review article on the types of gravity-measuring instruments used or tested at sea since 1903, on the various extraneous accelerations that affect sea measurements, and on results obtained in several gravity surveys using one type of meter. Free-air gravity anomaly maps are included of: (1) the Gulf of Mexico; (2) a strip west of the coast from northern California to the southern tip of Alaska; and (3) north of Hawaii. Hypothetical crustal and subcrustal sections, consistent with gravity anomalies and seismic refraction data, are included for selected regions.     

Modelling the tides and their impacts on the vertical stratification over the Sofala Bank,Mozambique

The Sofala Bank, a wide shelf located along the central coast of Mozambique, hosts tides with high amplitudes. The Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) was used to analyse the tidal currents on the bank and to investigate their effects on the stratification and generation of tidal fronts. During spring tides, barotropic tidal currents with maximum values ranging from 40 cm s^–1 to 70 cm s^–1 are found on the central bank. The major axis of the tidal ellipses for M₂ and S₂ follow a cross-shelf direction with mainly anticlockwise rotation. Similar to observations, three distinct regimes occur: (i) a warm well-mixed region on the inner shelf where the depths are <30 m; (ii) a wellmixed colder region above the shelf edge; and (iii) a stratified region offshore. The model shows that the tides lead to cooling where two criteria are satisfied: the Simpson and Hunter parameter log₁₀(h/U³) <3.2 and the depth h >30 m. The shelf edge of the bank is important for internal tide generation. Two frontal structures result, one offshore between cooler mixed waters and warmer stratified waters and the other in shallow inshore waters, between cooler mixed waters and solar heated mixed waters.     

重力数据融合与重力垂直梯度异常反演

重力垂直梯度异常反应了重力异常的空间变化率,在地球物理勘探等多学科中得到越来越多的应用。利用南海局部区域实测重力异常数据和Sandwell测高重力异常数据,将搜索范围、距离和精度多种因素融合考虑并对Shepard算法进行改进,给出了南海局部区域(19°N~20.5°N,114°E~115.5°E)分辨率1'×1'的重力异常并反演了对应分辨率的重力垂直梯度异常。结果表明,基于Shepard改进算法的高精度船测重力和测高重力的有机融合,增强了单一测高重力数据反演重力垂直梯度异常的细节纹理,提高了反演重力垂直梯度异常的分辨率和精度。