FURTHER MEASUREMENTS OF THE CROMWELL CURRENT,
Abstract
The Cromwell Current was observed in the eastern Pacific on the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Swan Song Expedition, 5 September - 1 December 1961 by hydrographic stations and direct current measurements. The velocity structure at 140 deg W was similar to that observed in April 1958 except that the transport was only 22,000,000 cu m/sec, 55% of that observed in 1958. It is believed that part of this difference may be accounted for in the difference in strength of the South Equatorial Current during these two periods. The current structure at 118 deg W was similar to that observed at 140 deg W. At 96 deg W it appeared the Cromwell Current was beginning to dissipate. The break up was more pronounced at 93 deg W. A small flow was tracked around the north side of Isabela Island in the Galapagos and found again east of the Galapagos. The water in the Cromwell Current east of the Galapagos is slightly heavier and about 150 m deeper than that to the west. There is evidence from the velocity observations and the distribution of properties for a convergent meridional flow. An isolated high salinity core, south of the equator, is thus explained. Estimates of the meridional and vertical velocity components are 10 cm/sec and 0.005 cm/sec respectively. The 'residence time' of a particle within the Cromwell Current is 1,000,000 - 10 to the 7th power sec. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0654204
Entities
People
- John A. Knauss
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island