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Estimates of the geostrophic stream function in the western North Pacific from XBT surveysBernstein and White (1981) have argued that the 300 m temperature field in the western North Pacific reflects the 100/1000 dbar geostrophic stream function of the upper ocean where 100/1000 dbar implies the 100 dbar surface relative to the 1000 dbar surface. The correlation between upper ocean dynamic height and temperature in this region provides the basis for their argument. The involved relationship suggests that it may be possible to monitor the relative upper ocean geostrophic transport, as well as energy relations and heat fluxes with expendable bathythermograph (XBT) surveys. Certain discrepancies between data from different sources are felt to result from problems with the XBT observations. The present investigation is concerned with the determination of the ability of XBT surveys to estimate geostrophic currents, taking into account a comparison of directly measured data with estimated shears. Discrepancies are found to be related to an underestimation of the dynamic height gradients.
Document ID
19850033268
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Koblinsky, C. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD; California, University, La Jolla, CA, United States)
Bernstein, R. L.
(California, University La Jolla; Seaspace, San Diego, CA, United States)
Schmitz, W. J., Jr.
(Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA, United States)
Niiler, P. P.
(California, University La Jolla, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
November 20, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 89
ISSN: 0148-0027
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
85A15419
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: N0014-82-K-0110
OTHER: N00014-76-C-0197
OTHER: N00014-81-C-0705
PROJECT: NR PROJECT 083-400
OTHER: N00014-80-C-0440
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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