Statistics of the Pacific Ocean circulation field

1980 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 848
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

scholarly journals Biogeochemistry of the North Atlantic during oceanic anoxic event 2: role of changes in ocean circulation and phosphorus input

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 977-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Ruvalcaba Baroni ◽  
R. P. M. Topper ◽  
N. A. G. M. van Helmond ◽  
H. Brinkhuis ◽  
C. P. Slomp
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Deep Basin ◽  
The North ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. The geological record provides evidence for the periodic occurrence of water column anoxia and formation of organic-rich deposits in the North Atlantic Ocean during the mid-Cretaceous (hereafter called the proto-North Atlantic). Both changes in primary productivity and oceanic circulation likely played a role in the development of the low-oxygen conditions. Several studies suggest that an increased input of phosphorus from land initiated oceanic anoxic events (OAEs). Other proposed mechanisms invoke a vigorous upwelling system and an ocean circulation pattern that acted as a trap for nutrients from the Pacific Ocean. Here, we use a detailed biogeochemical box model for the proto-North Atlantic to analyse under what conditions anoxia could have developed during OAE2 (94 Ma). The model explicitly describes the coupled water, carbon, oxygen and phosphorus cycles for the deep basin and continental shelves. In our simulations, we assume the vigorous water circulation from a recent regional ocean model study. Our model results for pre-OAE2 and OAE2 conditions are compared to sediment records of organic carbon and proxies for photic zone euxinia and bottom water redox conditions (e.g. isorenieratane, carbon/phosphorus ratios). Our results show that a strongly elevated input of phosphorus from rivers and the Pacific Ocean relative to pre-OAE2 conditions is a requirement for the widespread development of low oxygen in the proto-North Atlantic during OAE2. Moreover, anoxia in the proto-North Atlantic is shown to be greatly influenced by the oxygen concentration of Pacific bottom waters. In our model, primary productivity increased significantly upon the transition from pre-OAE2 to OAE2 conditions. Our model captures the regional trends in anoxia as deduced from observations, with euxinia spreading to the northern and eastern shelves but with the most intense euxinia occurring along the southern coast. However, anoxia in the central deep basin is difficult to achieve in the model. This suggests that the ocean circulation used in the model may be too vigorous and/or that anoxia in the proto-North Atlantic was less widespread than previously thought.

scholarly journals Can seafloor voltage cables be used to study large-scale circulation? An investigation in the Pacific Ocean

Ocean Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 383-392
Author(s):  
Jakub Velímský ◽  
Neesha R. Schnepf ◽  
Manoj C. Nair ◽  
Natalie P. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Abstract. Marine electromagnetic (EM) signals largely depend on three factors: flow velocity, Earth's main magnetic field, and seawater's electrical conductivity (which depends on the local temperature and salinity). Because of this, there has been recent interest in using marine EM signals to monitor and study ocean circulation. Our study utilizes voltage data from retired seafloor telecommunication cables in the Pacific Ocean to examine whether such cables could be used to monitor circulation velocity or transport on large oceanic scales. We process the cable data to isolate the seasonal and monthly variations and then evaluate the correlation between the processed data and numerical predictions of the electric field induced by an estimate of ocean circulation. We find that the correlation between cable voltage data and numerical predictions strongly depends on both the strength and coherence of the model velocities flowing across the cable, the local EM environment, as well as the length of the cable. The cable within the Kuroshio Current had good correlation between data and predictions, whereas two of the cables in the Eastern Pacific Gyre – a region with both low flow speeds and interfering velocity directions across the cable – did not have any clear correlation between data and predictions. Meanwhile, a third cable also located in the Eastern Pacific Gyre showed good correlation between data and predictions – although the cable is very long and the speeds were low, it was located in a region of coherent flow velocity across the cable. While much improvement is needed before utilizing seafloor voltage cables to study and monitor oceanic circulation across wide regions, we believe that with additional work, the answer to the question of whether or not seafloor voltage cables can be used to study large-scale circulation may eventually be yes.

Can seafloor voltage cables be used to study large scale transport? An investigation in the Pacific Ocean.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neesha Schnepf ◽  
Manoj Nair ◽  
Jakub Velimsky ◽  
Natalie Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Oceanic Transport

<p>Marine electromagnetic (EM) signals largely depend on three factors: oceanic transport (i.e., depth-integrated flow), the local main magnetic field, and the local seawater conductivity (which depends on the local temperature and salinity). Thus, there is interest in using seafloor telecommunication cables to isolate marine EM signals and study ocean processes because these cables measure voltage differences between their two ends. Data from such cables can provide information on the depth-integrated transport occurring in the water column above the cable. However, these time-varying data are a superposition of all EM fields present at the observatory, no matter what source or process created the field. The main challenge in using such submarine voltage cables to study ocean circulation is properly isolating its signal.</p><p> </p><p>Our study utilizes voltage data from retired seaoor telecommunication cables in the Pacific Ocean to examine whether such cables could be used to monitor transport on large-oceanic scales. We process the cable data to isolate the seasonal and monthly variations, and evaluate the correlation between the processed data and numerical predictions of the electric field induced by ocean circulation. We find that the correlation between cable voltage data and numerical predictions strongly depends on both the strength and coherence of the transport owing across the cable. The cable within the Kuroshio Current had the highest correlation between data and predictions, whereas two of the cables in the Eastern Pacific gyre (a region with both low transport values and interfering transport signals across the cable) did not have any clear correlation between data and predictions. Meanwhile, a third cable also located in the Eastern Pacific gyre did have correlation between data and predictions, because although the transport values were low, it was located in a region of coherent transport flow across the cable. While much improvement is needed before utilizing seafloor voltage cables to study and monitor oceanic transport across wide oceanic areas, we believe that the answer to our title's questions is yes: seafloor voltage cables can eventually be used to study large-scale transport.</p>

Response of the Pacific Ocean Circulation to Climate Change

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyong Luo ◽  
Lewis M. Rothstein
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

scholarly journals WOCE AMS Radiocarbon I: Pacific Ocean Results (P6, P16 and P17)

Radiocarbon ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Key ◽  
Paul D. Quay ◽  
Glenn A. Jones ◽  
A. P. McNichol ◽  
K. F. Von Reden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The North ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
World Ocean Circulation Experiment ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Similar Density

AMS radiocarbon results from the World Ocean Circulation Experiment in the Pacific Ocean show dramatic changes in the inventory and distribution of bomb-produced 14C since the time of the GEOSECS survey (8/73–6/74). Near-surface Δ14C values for the eastern portion of both the northern and southern subtropical gyres decreased by 25–50‰, with the change being greater in the north. Equatorial near-surface values have increased by ca. 25‰. Changes in the 250–750-m depth range are dramatically different between the northern and southern basins. The intermediate and mode waters of the southern basin have increased by as much as 75‰ since GEOSECS. Waters of similar density in the northern hemisphere are not exposed to the Southern Ocean circulation regime and are significantly less ventilated, showing maximum changes of ca. 50‰.

scholarly journals Decadal Changes in Bomb-Produced Radiocarbon in the Pacific Ocean from the 1990s to 2000s

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 1641-1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Kumamoto ◽  
Akihiko Murata ◽  
Takeshi Kawano ◽  
Shuichi Watanabe ◽  
Masao Fukasawa
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Subtropical Region ◽  
The North ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

In the 2000s, radiocarbon in dissolved inorganic carbon was measured during 7 revisit cruises along the lines of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment in the Pacific Ocean. Comparison of 14C data along these lines from the 1990s and 2000s revealed decadal changes of 14C concentration in the thermocline, most of which were due to temporal changes in the bomb-produced 14C. Vertical profiles and vertical-integrated inventories of the bomb 14C in the subarctic and equatorial regions did not change appreciably. In the southern subtropical region, 14C decreased in the upper thermocline from the surface to ∼500 m depth. In contrast, 14C increased in the lower thermocline below ∼500 m depth. The opposing directions in 14C change resulted in small temporal changes in the total inventory of bomb 14C. On the other hand, the water-column inventory significantly decreased in the northwestern subtropical region due to the 14C decrease in the upper thermocline. These decadal changes in bomb 14C indicate that the turnover time of thermocline circulation in the northwestern subtropical region is faster than that in the southern subtropical region, and imply an interbasin transport of bomb 14C from the North Pacific to other basins.

scholarly journals Distribution of plutonium in the Pacific Ocean and implications for tracing of ocean circulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junwen Wu ◽  
Jisheng Chen ◽  
Cui Wang ◽  
Zhaoyong Zheng ◽  
Liang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Ocean Surface ◽  
North Equatorial Current ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Surface Seawater ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Abstract This study examined plutonium (Pu) sources and distribution in the Pacific Ocean based on extensive field datasets over the past 50 years. The basin wide 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in surface and deep seawater ranged from 0.192 to 0.279 averaging 0.235 ± 0.019, a value consistently higher than that of global fallout at ~ 0.180. The distribution of 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios exhibited a decreasing trend along the North Equatorial Current-Kuroshio to their extension areas. The activity levels of 239+240Pu in Pacific Ocean surface seawater ranged widely from 0.2 to 43.5 mBq m− 3, and increased with latitude. We determined the Pu sourced from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) and global nuclear fallout in the Pacific Ocean based on the Pu isotopic composition. Using a mixing model, we found that the PPG made the dominant Pu contribution (average = 69.6 ± 14.4%) to Pacific Ocean surface seawater. The depth range of maximal 239+240Pu activity in the Pacific Ocean was well defined, averaging 608 ± 137 m. The vertical distribution of the 239+240Pu inventory showed most of Pu retained in the upper 3000 m, namely, the contributions of 239+240Pu inventories at 0-1000 m and 0-3000 m depths accounted for 43.5 ± 9.0% and 75.1 ± 12.0% of the total, respectively. We identified the transport pathway of Pu-PPG in the Pacific Ocean and demonstrated that Pu isotopes hold great promise as tracers of ocean circulation. Finally, via this extensive compilation of Pu isotopic compositions in the Pacific Ocean water, we established a Pu baseline in the region.

The variability of the sediment plume and ocean circulation features of the Nass River Estuary, British Columbia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Fissel ◽  
Yuehua Lin ◽  
Alison Scoon ◽  
Jose Lim ◽  
Leslie Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Tidal Currents ◽  
Height Range ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Landsat Satellite

The Nass River discharges into Nass Bay and Iceberg Bay, which are adjoining tidal inlets located within the northern inland waters of British Columbia, Canada. After the Skeena River, the Nass River is the second longest river within northern British Columbia, which discharges directly into Canadian waters of the Pacific Ocean. It is also supports one of the most productive salmon fisheries in northern British Columbia. The Nass River discharges into the eastern end of Nass Bay. Nass Bay, in turn feeds into Portland Canal and the fresh surface waters then flows westward to the Pacific Ocean via Dixon Entrance. The tides in Northern British Columbia are very large with a tidal height range of just over 7 m. Nass Bay is a shallow inlet of less than 10 km in length with typical water depths of than 10 m or less. The existing knowledge of oceanographic processes in Nass and Iceberg Bays was rudimentary until three years ago, when the first modern oceanographic measurements were obtained. In this study, the seasonal and tidal variability of the lateral extent of the Nass River surface plume is mapped from analyses of Landsat satellite data spanning the period from 2008 to 2015. A high resolution coupled three dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic model was developed and implemented, within the widely used and accepted Delft3D modeling framework, which was forced and validated using recent 2013-2016 in-situ oceanographic measurements. The combined satellite and numerical modeling methods are used to study the physical oceanographic and sediment transport regime of Nass and Iceberg Bays and the adjoining waters of Portland Inlet and Observatory Inlet. The ocean circulation of Nass and Iceberg Bays was found to be dominated by tidal currents, and by the highly seasonal and variable Nass River freshwater discharges. Complex lateral spatial patterns in the tidal currents occur due to the opening of the southwestern side of Nass Bay onto the deeper adjoining waters of Iceberg Bay. Surface winds are limited to a secondary role in the circulation variability. The sediment dynamics of the Nass Bay system features a very prominent surface sediment plume present from the time of freshet in mid-spring through to large rainfall runoff events in the fall. The time-varying turbidity distribution and transport paths of the Nass River sediment discharges in the study area were characterized using the model results combined with an analysis of several high-resolution multi-year Landsat satellite data sets.

scholarly journals Woce Radiocarbon IV: Pacific Ocean Results; P10, P13N, P14C, P18, P19 & S4P

Radiocarbon ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Key ◽  
Paul D Quay ◽  
Peter Schlosser ◽  
A P McNichol ◽  
KF von Reden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
World Ocean Circulation Experiment ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

The World Ocean Circulation Experiment, carried out between 1990 and 1997, provided the most comprehensive oceanic survey of radiocarbon to date. Approximately 10,000 samples were collected in the Pacific Ocean by U.S. investigators for both conventional large volume p counting and small volume accelerator mass spectrometry analysis techniques. Results from six cruises are presented. The data quality is as good or better than previous large-scale surveys. The 14C distribution for the entire WOCE Pacific data set is graphically described using mean vertical profiles and sections, and property-property plots.

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