c) The diagram above shows near-surface observations of temperature and salinity
ID: 289275 • Letter: C
Question
c) The diagram above shows near-surface observations of temperature and salinity from an eddy in the Arctic ocean. The contours in the left-hand panel show isopycnals (isolines of potential density). i) What type of eddy is this, and why would you classify it this way? (2P) ii) Would you expect the eddy to be in geostrophic or cyclogeostrophic balance? Explain why. (2P) iii) Sketch the direction of the geostrophic velocity in this section and explain how you derived it. You may assume that the geostrophic flow is zero at the surface. [N.B. this is not a hint for part (ii).] (4P)
Potential Temperature (C) 10 10 -0.6 30 -0.8 31 50 50 30 29 1.4 80 90 100 80 90 100 28 27 0 5 0 15 20 25 30 10 15 20 25 30 Distance(km) Distance (km) Timmermans et al. (2008) c) The diagram above shows near-surface observations of temperature and salinity from an eddy in the Arctic ocean. The contours in the left-hand panel show isopycnals (isolines of potential density). i) What type of eddy is this, and why would you classify it this way? (2P) ii) Would you expect the eddy to be in geostrophic or cyclogeostrophic balance? Explain why. (2P) ii) Sketch the direction of the geostrophic velocity in this section and explain how you derived it. You may assume that the geostrophic flow is zero at the surface. [N.B. this is not a hint for partExplanation / Answer
(1) Arctic ocean are characterized by halocline eddies. And the same halocline is characterized by strong increase in salinity and varying potential temperature.
(2) The eddies are in cyclogeostrophic balance, current that is in geostrophic balance , with a correction for centrifugal acceleration due to flow along curved flow paths. The correction terms become important in strong circular eddy motion.
(3) The direction of flow is parallel to the isobars, with the high pressure to the right of the flow in northern hemisphere,and high pressure to the left in southern hemisphere, thus the direction is EASTWARD.
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