Equatorial Undercurrent in Pacific Ocean Revealed by New Methods.
Equatorial Undercurrent in Pacific Ocean Revealed by New Methods.
复制标题
DOI:
10.1126/science.119.3097.648
复制
发表时间:
1954-05
期刊:
影响因子:
56.9
通讯作者:
T. Cromwell;R. B. Montgomery;E. Stroup
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
T. Cromwell;R. B. Montgomery;E. Stroup
Indications of an eastward current at the equator beneath the westward South Equatorial Current came originally from the drift of long-line fishing gear in use from vessels of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Direct observation of drifting objects, or" drags," from the Service's research vessel Hugh M. Smith during Aug. 1952 proved the existence of this eastward current in the central Pacific near the equator in the lower part of the surface layer and upper thermocline. resistance with ease of handling and stowage. A pole carrying a radar target and one carrying a flag and light were attached to the downwind end of the nets. The deep drags (Fig. 2) were similar to a common form of sea anchor. Each consisted of a light muslin cone attached to an aluminum alloy hoop weighted at the bottom and buoyed at the top so that it would remain upright. Piano wire of diameter 0.72 mm joined the deep drag unit to two streamlined floats, one at the seasurface and the other slightly submerged. The drags used were 3 and 4 m in hoop diameter, so large that retrieval was impossible and a drag could be used only once. Wind resistance of the poles prevented perfectly free movement of the surface drag with the current, and water resistance of the wire and floats similarly affected the deep drags. Corrections to reduce the drag velocities to current velocities are being determined, and a complete account of the data and results is being prepared for later publication. However, the submierged countercurrent can be described now in terms that will not be alteredby these corrections.