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Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
Published on: September 5, 2018
Thermohaline fine structure in an oceanographic front from seismic reflection profiling.
W Steven Holbrook1, Pedro Páramo, Scott Pearse
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. steveh@uwyo.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 9, 2003
Summary
Marine seismic reflection reveals detailed oceanic thermohaline structure. This technology maps distinct water masses and thermohaline intrusions, improving oceanographic understanding.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Geophysics
- Acoustics
Background:
- Oceanic fronts, like the one between the Labrador and North Atlantic Currents, are complex zones of water mass interaction.
- Understanding the fine-scale structure of these fronts is crucial for oceanographic modeling and climate studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of marine seismic reflection for imaging oceanic thermohaline structure.
- To map distinct water masses and their internal features at oceanographic fronts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized low-frequency acoustic reflections from marine seismic reflection profiles.
- Analyzed sound speed contrasts at interfaces where temperature changes.
- Interpreted east-dipping reflections associated with thermohaline intrusions.
Main Results:
- Successfully created acoustic images of oceanic thermohaline structure.
- Demonstrated that distinct water masses and their internal structures can be mapped.
- Identified thermohaline intrusions within the upper 1000 meters of the ocean at the studied front.
Conclusions:
- Marine seismic reflection provides high spatial resolution for oceanic phenomena.
- This technique is effective for imaging thermohaline intrusions, internal waves, and eddies.
- Seismic reflection offers a valuable tool for detailed oceanographic studies.
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