The Space-Time Scales of Variability in Oceanic Thermal Structure Off the Central California Coast.

Abstract

In the active coastal upwelling regime off Pt. Sur, there was an equatorward surface jet 15 to 40km offshore, and a weaker poleward undercurrent near the continental slope. Based on tendency analyses of a set of quasi-synoptic hydrographic surveys, both upwelling and mixing were important in lowering sea-surface temperature (SST). The coastal bathymetry influenced the in situ property distributions around Pt. Sur, and the satellite-derived SST patterns. Based on the satellite data, the upwelling frontal boundary meandered with space and time scales of about 80km (alongshore) and 30 to 40 days, respectively. Over several months, the major upwelling frontal boundary gradually moves the order of 50km offshore. The major abrupt decreases in coastal SST (of order 3C) in certain years were attributed to the spring transition to coastal upwelling. The four E1 Nino episodes of the past 12 years were evident in coastal SST. E1 Nino events may initiate, and apparently strengthen, the spring transitions. Based on daily surface and subsurface temperature, correlation time scales ranged from several days (subsurface) to almost ten days (surface).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADA142040

Entities

People

  • L. C. Breaker

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computational Science
  • Correlation Techniques
  • Data Mining
  • Data Science
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Knowledge Management
  • Oceanography
  • Ridges
  • Statistical Algorithms
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Statistics
  • Surface Properties
  • Surveys
  • Theses
  • Topography
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Oceanography.

Technology Areas

  • Space