Fine Scale of Temperature Gradient,
Abstract
The structure of temperature along a vertical line through the ocean was measured by a free-fall instrument. The rate of change of temperature is measured at the tip of a probe extending below the instrument. A pressure gauge monitors falling speed. The rate of change of temperature with time can be interpreted in terms of temperature gradient. The r.m.s. noise in the system is equivalent to less than 0.000001 degree C/cm in a bandwidth of one tenth 0.00002 degree C/cm at a wavelength of one centimeter. The observations show that the ocean has quasi-isothermal layers separated by intense but thin interfacial temperature gradients. At a depth of 500 m offshore from California the quasi-isothermal layers show fluctuations of 0.0001 or 0.001 degrees with a wide range of wavelengths. There is a cutoff at the short wavelength and of about 5 centimeters wavelength, presumably caused by thermal diffusion. The cutoff is well resolved. The interfacial gradients are of various magnitudes up to 0.01 degree C extending over a depth range of one to some tens of centimeters. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0715115
Entities
People
- B. P. Johnson
- C. S. Cox
- P. W. Hacker
- T. R. Osborn
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography