Publication Date:
2011-08-16
Description:
Evaluation of observations of surface temperature and salinity along the western edge of the Gulf Stream made from a ship and of concurrent temperature observations obtained by instrumented aircraft at six altitudes. The major feature along a five-kilometer line normal to the Stream's edge is a temperature gradient of about 0.75 C/kilometer within which are embedded two abrupt temperature increases of about 1.5 C. Temperature variations were compensated by salinity variations, yielding nearly constant density through the frontal zone; a sharp lateral current shear was associated with the thermohaline mixing region between the steps. The attenuation of surface temperature measured by the airborne radiometer was compared with a theoretical model. The analysis supports the view that a two-part correction technique is required: one part for bulk-skin temperature differences, and another for atmospheric attenuation of sea surface emission due to the mass and temperature of interfering gases.
Keywords:
GEOPHYSICS
Type:
Remote Sensing of Environment; 2; Feb. 197
Format:
text
