Heat Budgets of the Southeast Beaufort Sea for the Years 1974 and 1975.
Abstract
Comparisons were made of the heat budgets of the Southeast Beaufort Sea for the summer of 1974 (a severe ice year) and the summer of 1975 (a good ice year). Local meteorological data and oceanographic measurements obtained during the Beaufort Sea Project during August of both years were used to obtain estimates of the various heat terms. Results indicate that: (1) The major heat input to the sea is from absorbed solar radiation; (2) the overall heat contribution from the Mackenzie River is small in comparison to that from solar radiation; (3) the wind patterns in early spring are the major factor in determining the heat content of the water by summer; and (4) the wind patterns later in the spring and summer are the major factor in determining the ice coverage. From the distribution of heat in the study area, three consistent features were found: (a) a warm water core in the vicinity of 70 deg N, 183 deg W; (b) a core of warmer water north of Atkinson Point associated with the early open-water area; and (c) a core of cold water north of Richard's Island. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA096387
Entities
People
- Edward Leo Tummers
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School