The Agulhas Undercurrent Experiment

0118318比尔最近对一个强大的，显然是持续的，厄古拉斯暗流（AUC）的观察提出了许多挑衅性的问题。 这项研究解决的大问题是什么是纬度范围的AUC和它的作用在温盐循环？沿着AUC路径的速度、位涡和水团结构的演变和强迫是什么？如何量化与西部边界流沃茨的混合/夹带，并确定AUC内热量和质量的绝对通量？AUC转运的平均和时间变异性是什么？拟进行一次水文巡航，在此期间将测量AUC的4个电导率-温度-深度和降低的声学多普勒海流剖面仪剖面。 还将沿沿着32 S部署一个短系泊阵列。 三个系泊系统将各包含3米间距，以捕获AUC运输。 它们将被限制在水柱的1000米以下，设计用于监测长达2年，但可以更早地收回。 预计主要波动周期为30 - 40天。 南安普顿海洋学中心将免费向NSF提供系泊设备、仪表和相关技术人员。 一条间距为50 km的站线将连接封闭箱段的海上端部，以便进行财产平衡估算。 将在26 S至37 S之间沿沿着1800 m建立一条100 km间距的测站线，以估计暗流的纬度范围。 每个观测站将包括电导率-温度-深度、溶解氧和降低的声学多普勒海流剖面仪数据，其中有24个瓶子，供ODF人员根据WOCE标准进行校准。 这次航行大约需要28天。

0118318BealRecent observations of a strong, apparently persistent, Agulhas Undercurrent (AUC) raise a multitude of provocative questions. The big questions addressed by this study are What are the latitudinal extent of the AUC and its role in the thermohaline circulation?What are the evolution and forcing of the velocity, potential vorticity, and water mass structure along the AUC path?How does one quantify the mixing/entrainment with western boundary current waters and determine the absolute fluxes of heat and mass within the AUC?What are the mean and temporal variability of the transport of the AUC?A hydrographic cruise is proposed during which 4 conductivity-temperature-depth and lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler sections of the AUC will be measured. A short mooring array along 32S will be deployed, as well. Three moorings will each contain 3 meters spaced to capture the AUC transport. They will be confined to the lower 1000 m of the water column and be designed to monitor for up to 2 years, but may be retrieved earlier. The dominant fluctuations are expected to have periods of 30 - 40 days. The moorings, meters, and associated technicians will be provided at no cost to NSF by Southampton Oceanography Centre. A line of stations at 50 km spacing will connect the offshore ends of the sections closing boxes to allow property balance estimation to be done. A line of stations at 100 km spacing will be made along 1800 m from 26S to 37S to estimate the latitudinal extent of the undercurrent. Each station will include conductivity-temperature-depth, dissolved oxygen, and lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler data with 24 bottles for calibration to WOCE standards by ODF personnel. The cruise should require about 28 days.