New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Modelling ocean temperatures and mixed-layer depths in the Tasman Sea off the South Island, New Zealand
STEFAN RAHMSTORF
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
DSIR Marine and Freshwater
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Private Bag, Kilbirnie
Wellington, New Zealand
*Present address: Institut fur Meereskunde, Dtisternbrooker Weg 20,23 Kiel, Germany.
Abstract
A vertical mixing model was applied to a location off the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, with the aim of simulating the seasonal cycle of temperature and mixed layer depth in the region. Observed weather data for 1973-89 were used to drive the model. Model results for sea temperature and mixed layer depth were compared to measurements from ships, moored temperature sensors, and satellites. The main features of the variations in temperature and mixed layer depth can be explained by the local meteorological forcing and vertical mixing, together with a general southward flow in the study area. Superimposed are short-term variations which are obviously related to variable currents and the associated horizontal heat transport.
Keywords sea temperature; mixed layer; computer model; seasonal cycles; remote sensing; advection
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1992, Vol. 26: The Royal Society of New Zealand 1992
Received 1 May 1991; accepted 13 December 1991
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1182K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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