Title :
Measurement of near-bottom currents on hills in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean
Author :
Kontar, E.A. ; Sokov, A.V. ; Dova, T. A Demi ; Yaev, A. M Bel
Author_Institution :
P.P. Shirshov Inst. for Oceanology, Acad. of Sci., Moscow, Russia
Abstract :
Measurements in the eastern tropical Pacific show considerable space-time variation in the bottom currents. A near-bottom intensification in the current velocity over the bottom boundary layer (BBL) has been recorded. A benthic storm (BS) appeared to be related eddies extending to the bottom on abyssal hills. The action of these eddies can lead to a change in the direction of the bottom currents and an increase in their velocity. This action also manifests itself by a change in the depth of the benthic thermocline, a reduction in its thickness and in the temperature gradient, as well as in a transformation of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and the emergence of bottom fronts
Keywords :
oceanographic regions; AABW; AD 1988; Antarctic Bottom Water; abyssal hill; benthic storm; benthic thermocline; bottom boundary layer; bottom front thermohaline structure; current velocity; deep sea current; direction; eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean; eddies; hill; intensification; lower ocean dynamics; near bottom current; seafloor topography; temperature gradient; temporal variation; tropical Pacific; velocity; Antarctica; Area measurement; Current measurement; Fluctuations; Manganese; Ocean temperature; Sea floor; Sea measurements; Sea surface; Storms;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS '94. 'Oceans Engineering for Today's Technology and Tomorrow's Preservation.' Proceedings
Conference_Location :
Brest
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2056-5
DOI :
10.1109/OCEANS.1994.363910