Observations of net heat flux into the surface mixed layer of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

1993 ◽  
Vol 98 (C12) ◽  
pp. 22521 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. F. Bradley ◽  
J. S. Godfrey ◽  
P. A. Coppin ◽  
J. A. Butt
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Equatorial Pacific ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Equatorial Pacific Ocean ◽  
Net Heat Flux ◽  
Western Equatorial Pacific

Surface heat fluxes in the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean

1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1047-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. C. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Equatorial Pacific ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Equatorial Pacific Ocean ◽  
Net Heat Flux ◽  
Western Equatorial Pacific

Abstract. Estimates of the components of the surface heat flux in the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean are presented for a 22-day period, together with a critical analysis of the errors. It is shown that the errors in latent heat, and solar and longwave radiation fluxes, dominate the net heat flux for this period. It is found that the net heat flux into the ocean over the 22-day period is not significantly different from zero. It is also demonstrated that because of the variability in daily averaged values of solar radiation and the latent heat of evaporation, a large number of independent flux measurements will be required to determine with confidence the climatological net heat flux in this region. The variability of latent fluxes over the 22-day period suggest that climatological estimates based on monthly mean observations may lead to a significant underestimate of the latent heat flux.

Distribution of 226Ra and 210Pb in the mixed layer of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip H. Towler ◽  
J. David Smith
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Equatorial Pacific ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Equatorial Pacific Ocean ◽  
Depth Profiles ◽  
Western Equatorial Pacific

The residence time of particulate and dissolved 210Pb in the upper layer of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean is examined. Activities of dissolved 226Ra, dissolved and particulate 210Pb, and particulate 210Po were determined to a depth of 300 m in a series of depth profiles collected along a transect across the equator at 155˚E in November 1993. Total 210Pb in the surface water decreased from 2·7 Bq m-3 at 10˚N to 1·8 Bq m-3 at 10˚S. Dissolved 210Pb generally decreased with depth but showed subsurface (100–150 m) maxima at 10˚N and 5˚N. The nutrient concentrations at 300 m were highest at these stations, suggesting some degree of upwelling. Calculations indicate that the residence times of dissolved (<0·45 µm) and particulate (>0·45 µm) 210Pb in the top 300 m were 4·6–9·6 years and 0·15–0·29 year respectively.

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