Analysis of meteorological and oceanographic data from Ocean Station Vessel N (30N 140W)

Graduation date: 1974The thesis examines the principal air-sea properties at Ocean\ud Station Vessel N (30N 140W). In a descriptive section, meteorological\ud and oceanographic data for N are analyzed over 20 years (1951-1970)\ud and 7 years (1964-1970), respectively. A rainfall estimate is constructed\ud for the 20 year period. The yearly average rainfall is 22\ud centimeters, far less than current estimates. Daily and seasonal\ud variations are presented. Heat budgets of the surface show that the\ud two decades are distinctly different. Anomalies of the 20 years of all\ud meteorological variables are calculated. The pressure anomaly\ud appears to be loosely correlated with anomalous large scale events\ud in the equatorial dry zone. Time series cross-sections are shown of\ud the mixed layer depth, bottle temperature and salinity. The near\ud surface density appears to be largely controlled by temperature.\ud Surface wind speed, air pressure, sea temperature, air\ud temperature and dew point spectra for a 10-year period (1961-1970)\ud are shown in a spectral section. Spectra are computed separately for\ud the 4 seasons. Rotary spectra for the wind are also calculated.\ud In a discussion of mixed layer dynamics, theoretical calculations\ud indicate that salinity is not a significant factor in the Eastern subtropics.\ud In a final section, Denman's mixed layer model is applied to two\ud cases of data from N. It is found that Denman's model describes the\ud local mixed layer changes in the one case where advective effects\ud could be resolved. It is suggested that mixed layer extinction lengths\ud for sunlight are shorter than previously believed--about 5 meters.\ud Denman's mixed layer model appears applicable to local changes in\ud the Eastern subtropics