The Oceanographic/Meteorological Environment West of St. Croix,
Abstract
A review of oceanographic and meteorological data was undertaken for the underwater tracking range west of St. Croix in order to assemble a scenario of the physical environment. Recent current meter data from three current meter arrays moored during February 1976 indicated that the most significant contributions to the time dependent flow are rotary motions that have maximum amplitudes coinciding with the semidiurnal tidal period (12.42 hours). Maximum horizontal current shear (1.2 cm/sec/m) occurs at about 100. Convective mixing appears to be the principal process of layer depth variations, which varied from a minimum of 50 during August to a maximum of about 120 during March. Surface winds are out of the east during all months, with speeds averaging from 10.4 knots in October to 14.0 knots in July. Maximum average wave heights (sea and swell) most frequently occur with periods between 10-11 seconds. Seasonal variation in sound velocity amounts to about 3 m/sec in the first 100 m, 2 between 100 and 300 and less than 2 m/sec from 300 to 900.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA043654
Entities
People
- D. A. Burns