Subsurface Dynamical Properties of Variable Features Seen in Satellite IR Imagery off Point Sur and Their Acoustic Significance.
Abstract
This study is a continuation of chemical mesoscale research of cold water anomalies detected by satellite IR imagery off the Point Sur area with emphasis upon description of the thermal structure. Analysis of dynamic forcing is restricted to the relationship between equatorward alongshore wind stress and coastal upwelling. The preferred location of the features was on the south side of Point Sur near the axis of a mesoscale canyon (consistent with background theory). In all cases, a surface (upper 100 m) 'lens' type feature with horizontal dimensions of 20 km at 50 m was observed below the surface cold spot expression. Typical temperature changes across the feature were of the order of 3 C/10 km with temperature changes across frontal zones of the order of 1 C/km. The surface density field pattern of November 1979 was similar to the surface temperature pattern. As determined by Parabolic Equation (PE) Acoustic Model runs, the presence of the wedge decreased propagation loss particularly in the cross shelf directions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA092632
Entities
People
- John Edward Johnson Jr
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School