Meridional ocean heat transport across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current /
Historical hydrographic data, climatological wind data and outputs of high-resolution, ocean circulation models are used to estimate meridional ocean heat transport across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Five circumpolar paths are chosen within the ACC. Along each successive path, the ver...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1996.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=739363331&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Historical hydrographic data, climatological wind data and outputs of high-resolution, ocean circulation models are used to estimate meridional ocean heat transport across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Five circumpolar paths are chosen within the ACC. Along each successive path, the vertically-averaged temperatures are approximately equal to 0.7'C' 1.OC, 1.3'C, 1.6'C and 2.0'C starting with the southernmost. The total meridional ocean heat transport consists of components caused by Ekman transports in the upper levels of the ocean, mesoscale eddies, and geostrophic mean flows throughout the water column. The Ekman heat transport and the geostrophic heat transport are obtained by in situ oceanic measurements. The eddy heat transport is estimated using both results of eddy-resolving, ocean circulation models and direct measurements. The results show a large equatorward heat transport by the Ekman flows and the largest poleward heat transport by the eddies. The net meridional heat transport across the ACC is poleward. The total poleward heat transport is 0.05, 0.11, 0.20, 0.28 and 0.38 x 10" W across the 0.7'C' 1.OC, 1.30C, 1.6'C and 2.0'C paths, respectively. These heat transport values indicate a net heat loss from the ACC to atmosphere. Gordon and Owens proposed a poleward heat flux of 0.31 x 10" W across the Polar Front (PF). Across the 1.30C path corresponding to the PF, this study gives a total heat flux of 0.21 x 10" W poleward. Seasonal variabilities of water properties and wind stress are examined and employed to estimate error bars of this calculation. For the above five heat flux values, the error estimate is 0︢.21, 0︢.291 0︢.34, 0︢.35 and 0︢.38 x 1015 W , respectively. Taking the error estimates into account, the total heat transport across the ACC is not significantly different from some previous estimates. Comparing with other estimates of meridional heat flux, the uncertainties are still relatively large for this estimate, especially for the values across the southern circumpolar paths along the ACC. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Oceanography". |
| Physical Description: | xiv, 98 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 73-76. |