Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports
>Received: by mlvl62.UCSD.EDU (SMI-8.6/UCSDUUCPGENERIC.4)
id SAA28394 to ; Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:28:42 GMT
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:28:42 GMT
From: mlvl62!silver@sdsioa.ucsd.edu (Marc Silver)
To: shipsked@ucsd.edu
Subject: PACS03MV Cruise Report #2
Cc: andersonp@psychiatry.wustl.edu, britt_anderson@hotmail.com,
camorale@mail.udec.cl, cronin@tahiti.pmel.noaa.gov, drogers@ucsd.edu,
jrichardson@am.earthtech.com, kbohr@whoi.edu, lecastro@udec.cl,
mangum@pmel.noaa.gov, master@sdsioa.ucsd.edu, mbaumgartner@whoi.edu,
pacseast@griffon.whoi.edu, patterson@ogp.noaa.gov,
pminnett@rsmas.miami.edu, schen@rsmas.miami.edu, slauzon@whoi.edu,
vagallar@udec.cl, waliser@terra.MSRC.Sunysb.EDU
R/V Melville Cruise: "PACS03MV"
Report date: September 22, 1998
Chief Scientist: Steve Anderson (WHOI)
NOAA Pan American Climate Studies (PACS) cruise 03. Using the
IMET, CTD and radiosondes, we competed a transect of the atmospheric and
oceanic boundary layers from 10 N to 3 S along 125 W. We have observed a
strong north-south gradient in both the boundary layers. The upper ocean
is characterized by a shallow fresh surface layer and 28 C surface
temperatures at 10 N, a deeper, cooler mixed layer near 3 N, then a very
shallow and cold (< 23 C) surface layer at the equator where the
thermocline appears to come right to the surface before deepening and
warming again south of the equator. The atmosphere above 700 mbar is
characterized by very moist air above the warm sea surface found north of 4
N and very dry air to the south. Below 850 mb the picture is more
complicated. We observed the driest and coldest atmospheric boundary layer
at the equator but a very thin dry air intrusion between 850 and 950 mbar
extends from the equator all they way to 6 N. A casual inspection of the
atmospheric transect suggests downward motion in the atmosphere above the
coldest surface waters and upward motion and convection above the warmer
waters to the north. On September 20, we successfully recovered the second
surface mooring. The meteorological and oceanographic instrumentation are
in good shape after nine months at sea. On September 21, we deployed the
last two of R. Davis' SOLO floats at the equator and began out transit back
to San Diego. We will continue to collect meteorological observations,
surface chlorophyll measurements, SEABEAM data, and radiometric
measurements (U. Miami) during the transit back north. The mooring and
data collection operations were assisted by the fine crew of the R/V
Melville under the expert direction of Captain E. Buck. We thank them for
their cheerful and professional support.
>Received: by mlvl62.UCSD.EDU (SMI-8.6/UCSDUUCPGENERIC.4)
id RAA04111 to ; Tue, 15 Sep 1998 17:13:42 GMT
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 17:13:42 GMT
From: mlvl62!silver@sdsioa.ucsd.edu (Marc Silver)
To: shipsked@ucsd.edu
Subject: PACS 03 Weekly Cruise Report
Cc: andersonp@psychiatry.wustl.edu, atlasrt@pmel.noaa.gov,
britt_anderson@hotmail.com, cronin@tahiti.pmel.noaa.gov,
mangum@pmel.noaa.gov, master@sdsioa.ucsd.edu,
pacseast@griffon.whoi.edu, patterson@ogp.noaa.gov,
pminnett@rsmas.miami.edu, schen@rsmas.miami.edu, slauzon@whoi.edu
R/V Melville Cruise: "PACS 03"
Report date: September 15, 1998
Chief Scientist: Steven Anderson (WHOI)
The primary purpose of this cruise is to recover two air-sea
interaction surface moorings deployed in the eastern equatorial Pacific
Ocean. The recovery of these moorings will conclude the first stage of the
NOAA sponsored Pan American Climate Study (PACS) field program. The two
mooring sites are at 3S and 10N along 125 W. These two sites span strong
gradients in ocean temperature, from the cold tongue just south of the
equator to the warm waters north of the equator, and gradients in cloud
cover and precipitation associated with the location of the ITCZ. Data
from the moorings will improve our understanding of the air-sea fluxes of
heat and moisture and the processes that control sea surface temperature in
the eastern tropical Pacific.
We departed San Diego on September 8. During transit from San
Diego to the northern most mooring, we collected meteorological
observations, surface chlorophyll measurements, SeaBeam bathymetry data,
radiometric measurements from MAERI (U. Miami) and atmospheric profiles of
temperature and humidity (U. Miami). We reached the first mooring site on
Sept. 12. At this site, sea surface temperatures are near 27 degrees
Celsius and skies are overcast with a shallow cloud layer that at times
dumps large amounts of rain on us. We successfully recovered the mooring
yesterday and found it to be in excellent condition. Afterward many
enjoyed a brief break for fishing. We are now working south along 125W
while conducting a hydrographic transect between the mooring sites and
continuing meteorological observations. In a few days, we will reach the
equator and expect to find a sharp drop in sea surface temperature as the
waters there have cooled there to 20-22 degrees Celsius in association with
evolving La Nina.
Steven Anderson on R/V Melville
This cruise is being funded by a grant from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
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