Jerome P. Dean

Three-dimensional flow in the upper ocean.

Measurements made from the Research Platform FLIP provide some of the first direct observations of three-dimensional flow within the surface mixed layer of the ocean. Relatively narrow regions of downwelling flow were found within the mixed layer, in coincidence with bands of convergent surface flow. At mid-depth in the mixed layer, the downwelling flow had magnitudes of up to 0.2 meter per second and was accompanied by a downwind, horizontal jet of comparable magnitude. There is some evidence that these motions transport heat and phytoplankton within the mixed layer.

Measuring Near-Surface Meteorology over the Ocean from an Array of Surface Moorings in the Subtropical Convergence Zone

Abstract An array of five surface moorings was set in the subtropical convergence zone southwest of Bermuda with spacings of 16 to 53 km. Meteorological instrumentation on each of the surface buoys recorded wind velocity, barometric pressure, solar radiation, air temperature, sea temperature, and relative humidity. One objective of the deployment was to look for horizontal variability in the meteorological fields on the scale of the array. In support of that objective, both a high data return from the instruments and a quantitative evaluation of the quality of the measurements were sought. To maximize data return rates, two meteorological instruments were placed on each buoy. To determine the accuracy of the measurements, careful predeployment and post-deployment calibrations of all instruments were carried out, and, during the experiment, meteorological data were collected from ships stationed near the buoys. From the two redundant instruments it was possible to construct one complete dataset for each mo...

Intercomparison of Aircraft and Surface Buoy Meteorological Data during CODE-1

Abstract Intercomparisons of meteorological data—wind speed and direction, surface temperature and surface pressure—were obtained for NCAR Queen Air overflights of four buoys during the CODE-1 experiment. The overflights were at a nominal altitude of 33 m. Wind and air temperature sensors were at 10 m on two National Data Buoy Office (NDBO) buoys and at 3.5 m on two Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) buoys. The buoy wind speeds were adjusted to the aircraft altitude using diabatic flux-profile relations and bulk aerodynamic formulas to estimate the surface fluxes and stability. For the experimental period (22 April-23 May 1981) and location (northern coast of California), the atmospheric surface layer was generally stable, with the Monin-Obukhov length on average 500 m with large variability. The results of the intercomparisons of the above variables were in general good. Average differences (aircraft - buoy) and standard deviations were +0.1 m s−1 (±1.8) for wind speed, 3.3 deg (±11.2) for wind ...

Temperature calibration of expendable bathythermographs

Abstract A non-destructive temperature calibration system for expendable bathythermographs (XBT) is described. A transfer standard technique has been used to estimate XBT thermistor probe-to-probe temperature variability. One-point calibration results suggest that a standard deviation of 0.025°C is typical at 10°C. Additional calibration data from nine XBT thermistors suggest that probe-to-probe temperature variability is largest at 0°C (ca. 0.03°C) and decreases uniformly to a minimum at 30°C (ca. 0.01°C).

Accuracy of temperature measurements with the VACM

Abstract : The report describes temperature measurement techniques with the Vector Averaging Current Meter (VACM) designed at WHOI and manufactured at AMF. Included are descriptions of circuitry, calibration techniques and calibration results. Precision calibrations of VACM thermistors began in 1971 at WHOI. Of the thermistors in our pool, 70 have had at least 3 calibrations over a period no shorter than 2 years. Of these 70 thermistors the results described show that 51 are stable.

A vector-averaging wind recorder (VWAR) system for surface meteorological measurements in CODE (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment)

Funding was provided by and this report prepared for the National Science Foundation under grant Numbers OCE 80-14941 and OCE 84-17769.

Subduction in the subtropical gyre : Seasoar cruises data report

Funding was provided by the Office of Naval Research through Grants Nos, N00014-91-J-1585, N00014-90-J-1425. and N00014-90-J-1508.

FASINEX (Frontal Air-Sea Interaction Experiment) Moored Instrumentation

Funding was provided by the Office of Naval Research under contract Number N00014-84-C-0134.

Ocean current measurement reliability: An engineer's view

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Buoy Group exists to make current measurements in the oceans. Vector-averaging and burst-sampling current meters are used on wire rope subsurface moorings with glass spheres for buoyancy. Since quality is inherent in the sensor design, for high quality data the instruments must function perfectly. The key to the Buoy Group record of 90% overall data return is the team of electronic and mooring technicians. These are well-trained, experienced and highly motivated people who prepare the instruments and mooring hardware and deploy and recover the mooring systems.