Atlantic and a strong Antarctic Circumpolar
Current.
In regions of the deep ocean where currents are
small, Wüst’s (1935) approach based on water
properties and core layers is usually more reliable
and more informative. In the Atlantic the water
property method indicates both the southward
flow of North Atlantic Deep Water and the northward flow of Antarctic Bottom Water. It also
shows saline Mediterranean Water spreading out
into the Atlantic along the southern branch of the
subtropical gyre, well below depths where the
traditional dynamic height method is effective.
Since their introduction, both methods have
been widely used in all oceans. They also form
the basis of most inverse methods used to determine ocean circulation (Wunsch, 1996). Among
the traditional analyses of the large-scale circulation one might specially mention the work of
Worthington (1976, 1981), Warren (1981b),
and the recent results of Schmitz (1995, 1996a,b)
and Schmitz and McCartney (1993). Possibly
the most detailed recent large-scale analyses are
those of Reid (1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997).
Results for part of the Pacific are shown in
Fig. 4.2.1.
4.2 The Interior Circulation of the Ocean
207
Webb and Suginohara
Fig. 4.2.1 Adjusted steric height at 2500 dbar in dynamic metres (10 m
2 s
92 or J kg
91
).The arrows show the
direction of geostrophic flow.Thick arrows indicate the location and direction of
3 He plumes at these depths.
Adapted from Reid (1997) and Lupton (1998). Copyright by Elsevier Science and the American Geophysical Union.
Current.
In regions of the deep ocean where currents are
small, Wüst’s (1935) approach based on water
properties and core layers is usually more reliable
and more informative. In the Atlantic the water
property method indicates both the southward
flow of North Atlantic Deep Water and the northward flow of Antarctic Bottom Water. It also
shows saline Mediterranean Water spreading out
into the Atlantic along the southern branch of the
subtropical gyre, well below depths where the
traditional dynamic height method is effective.
Since their introduction, both methods have
been widely used in all oceans. They also form
the basis of most inverse methods used to determine ocean circulation (Wunsch, 1996). Among
the traditional analyses of the large-scale circulation one might specially mention the work of
Worthington (1976, 1981), Warren (1981b),
and the recent results of Schmitz (1995, 1996a,b)
and Schmitz and McCartney (1993). Possibly
the most detailed recent large-scale analyses are
those of Reid (1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997).
Results for part of the Pacific are shown in
Fig. 4.2.1.
4.2 The Interior Circulation of the Ocean
207
Webb and Suginohara
Fig. 4.2.1 Adjusted steric height at 2500 dbar in dynamic metres (10 m
2 s
92 or J kg
91
).The arrows show the
direction of geostrophic flow.Thick arrows indicate the location and direction of
3 He plumes at these depths.
Adapted from Reid (1997) and Lupton (1998). Copyright by Elsevier Science and the American Geophysical Union.