Air-sea interaction at the subtropical convergence south of Africa
- Univ. of Capetown, Rondebosch (South Africa). Dept. of Oceanography
The oceanic region south of Africa plays a key role in the control of Southern Africa weather and climate. This is particularly the case for the Subtropical Convergence region, the northern border of the Southern Ocean. An extensive research cruise to investigate this specific front was carried out during June and July 1993. A strong front, the Subtropical Convergence was identified, however its geographic disposition was complicated by the presence of an intense warm eddy detached from the Agulhas current. The warm surface water in the eddy created a strong contrast between it and the overlying atmosphere. Oceanographic measurements (XBT and CTD) were jointly made with radiosonde observations and air-sea interaction measurements. The air-sea interaction measurement system included a Gill sonic anemometer, an Ophir infrared hygrometer, an Eppley pyranometer, an Eppley pyrgeometer and a Vaissala temperature and relative humidity probe. Turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible heat and latent heat were calculated in real time using the inertial dissipation method and the bulk method. All these measurements allowed a thorough investigation of the net heat loss of the ocean, the deepening of the mixed layer during a severe storm as well as the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer and ocean-atmosphere exchanges.
- OSTI ID:
- 467654
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9409461-; TRN: IM9721%%82
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. International conference on air-sea interaction and on meterology and oceanography of the coastal zone, Lisbon (Portugal), 22-27 Sep 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]; Related Information: Is Part Of Second international conference on air-sea interaction and on meteorology and oceanography of the coastal zone; PB: 343 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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