EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Ueki et al. 2002
Ueki, I., Ando, K., Kuroda, Y. and Kutsuwada, K. (2002). Salinity variation and its effect on dynamic height along the 156°E in the Pacific warm pool. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2001GL013993. issn: 0094-8276.

The yearlong mooring data of salinity and temperature along 156¿E from 8¿N to 5¿S in 1999--2000 obtained from TRITON (TRIangle Trans-Ocean buoy Network) demonstrates that the salinity variation contributed to the variation of surface dynamic height, therefore the geostrophic current. The distribution of the surface dynamic height calculated by observed salinity and temperature reveals a large trough corresponding to the southern edge of the north equatorial countercurrent (NECC), which moved northward from 5¿N to 8¿N in June--September 1999, while the dynamic height calculated by estimated salinity from climatological temperature-salinity relationships and observed temperature does not represent the same movement. This difference is caused by anomalous low salinity waters, which dominate above halocline at 5¿N. This study highlights that, in the Pacific warm pool, the variation of surface geostrophic currents such as the NECC is also affected by salinity variation.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Oceanography, General, Descriptive and regional oceanography, Oceanography, General, Equatorial oceanography, Oceanography, Physical, Upper ocean processes
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit