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The abyssal and deep circulation of the Northeast Pacific Basin.
- Source :
-
Progress in Oceanography . Jan2018, Vol. 160, p68-82. 15p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Three-dimensional abyssal and deep circulation of the region to the east and north of the Emperor Seamount Chain/Hawaiian Ridge is determined from a compilation of CTD and Argo float data, using a new overdetermined inverse technique for the geostrophic reference velocity and diapycnal/lateral mixing coefficients. The Northeast Pacific Basin is primarily sourced from its northern boundary, at a rate of 3.5 Sv across 47°N below 3000 m. Bottom water in the western subarctic gyre recirculates cyclonically between the Emperor Seamount Chain and 155°W. Bottom water east of 155°W takes a more direct path southward along the flank of a broad topographic slope. In the deep water, a ridge of potential vorticity lying along the Mendocino Fracture Zone separates circulation systems north and south of ∼40°N. The region has very weak diapycnal and lateral mixing, and an aspect ratio for the overturning circulation that is correspondingly flat, with bottom water parcels rising less than 1 km during their long transit from the Aleutian Trench to the latitude of Hawaii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *SUBMARINE fans
*GEOSTROPHIC currents
*BOTTOM water (Oceanography)
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00796611
- Volume :
- 160
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Progress in Oceanography
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 127922016
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2017.11.011