Nine-year trajectory of a SOFAR float in the southwestern North Atlantic
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-1988
Abstract
A SOFAR float at a depth of approximately 100 m was tracked intermittently for 9 years, the longest such trajectory ever obtained. This instrument was launched near 24N, 69W in October 1976. Tracking ceased when it was near 22N, 56W in June 1985. The llong-term drift was ≈1 cm s-1 eastward, in agreement with a few other 700 m floats and with geostrophic flow estimates for this region. The kinetic energy level of 20 cm2 s-2 is similar to those observed by current meters in the ocean interior away from western boundary currents, but eddy variability is more concentrated in the mesoscale frequencies. The zonal and meridional variances are roughly the same. © 1988.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Deep Sea Research Part A, Oceanographic Research Papers
Volume
35
Issue
12
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Owens, W. B., P. L. Richardson, W. J. Schmitz, H. T. Rossby, and D. C. Weeb. "Nine-year trajectory of a SOFAR float in the southwestern North Atlantic." Deep Sea Research Part A, Oceanographic Research Papers 35, 12 (1988). doi: 10.1016/0198-0149(88)90112-4.