The variations in the distributions of temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen content in the water in the Jervis system of inlets, between July 1961 and March 1963, have been examined in order to ascertain net current patterns and interactions between the inlets. The depths of the entrance sills divide the inlets into two groups. Of the four inlets in the system three possess shallow sills which force the tide water to enter the inlets in a turbulent jet. The circulation pattern resulting from the influence of this jet on the inlet is proposed. In contrast, the sill of the largest inlet in the system (Jervis) is deep and the tidal flow does not destroy the vertical stratification in the inlet to any appreciable degree. The relatively small fresh water runoff into Jervis creates a weak estuarine circulation resulting in slow renewal of the intermediate and deep water. The low oxygen concentrations found at mid-depths near the head of Jervis are attributed to this abnormally slow renewal. A mid-depth oscillatory flow of unknown period was found during the winter of 1962-63 in Jervis Inlet. This flow is attributed to strong south-westerly winds which raise the water level in Jervis Inlet forcing a mid-depth outflow. The direction of this flow possesses a negative correlation with the depth of the surface layer. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

Physical oceanographic data from the international NorPac survey of August 1955, in the area north of Latitude 45° N and east of Longitude 161° W, were examined. The temperature, salinity, and density distribution and structure from the surface to 2000 meters are discussed. The temperature structure showed an isothermal layer to about 30 meters depth, a marked thermocline to about 100 meters depth, a temperature inversion in most of the area, and below this a gradual temperature decrease into the abyss. At all depths the water was coldest in a "cold core" centered about 100 miles south of Kodiak and the Shumagin Islands. From there the temperature increased at each level in all directions. The salinity structure showed an isohaline layer to about 100 meters depth, a marked halocline to about 200 meters depth, and below this the salinity increased slightly into the abyss. The salinity structure did not coincide with the temperature structure. The density structure showed an isopycnal layer to about 30 meters depth, a pycnocline associated with the thermocline, a second isopycnal layer, a second pycnocline associated with the halocline, and below this the density increased slightly into the abyss. Variations in these structures throughout the region are discussed in some detail. There is no horizontal isosteric level in the 2000 meters of depth. It is concluded that there is no level of "no net motion" in this range, but a reference level of 2000 decibars for dynamic calculations is more acceptable than the usual 1000 decibar level. A new procedure is introduced to extend the reference level into the bottom in near coastal areas. The geostrophic currents were calculated. There was a major latitudinal drift from the west into the central part of the area. It veered northward and continued around the Gulf of Alaska, forming the Alaska Gyral, and left the area to the westward, as an intensified current (Alaska Stream) close along the Alaskan Peninsula. This intensification is probably due to conservation of absolute vorticity through changing latitude. The circulation pattern extended to at least 2000 meters depth, and probably to the bottom. It transported about 17 milion cubic meters of water per second. There were a number of eddies in the system, some of which were observed on earlier surveys. The major flow pattern was not wind-generated within the region. The influence of local winds was limited to the upper 200 meters of depth. In some areas it aided the flow, and in others retarded it. There is evidence to show that two chains of sea mounts influenced the current pattern according to the Bjerknes concept. Since the major portion of these is below 2000 meters depth it is concluded that currents exist in the abyss, in essentially the same direction as at the upper levels. This is consistent with the concept of conservation of absolute vorticity with changing latitude. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

A weather station was established on the dock of the Oregon State University Marine Science Center, Yaquina Bay, Oregon. A total of 197 weather observations was made from 30 June 1966 to 23 September 1966, with emphasis on the determination of the rate of evaporation from an evaporation pan and from atmometers. Sources of observational error were investigated and corrections applied as necessary. The daily variation in evaporation was determined. The correlation between wind, vapor pressure, and evaporation was found. Atmometers were used to estimate the evaporation from the surface of Yaquina Bay, and the possibility of using atmometers at sea was investigated. / Graduation date: 1967

The Geochemical Ocean Sections Study (GEOSECS) program has carried out an intensive study of physical and chemical parameters in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. As a result, an enormous collection of high quality data has been amassed for these two oceans. To analyze the Pacific data, fourteen stations extending from about 50°N to 69°S near 180°longitude have been selected for this study. The section chosen provides a good continuous north-south section in the Pacific from near the Bering Sea to the Antarctic. To study this massive extent of the oceanic regime, three methods were adopted. The first was to estimate, using Defant's method, the approximate level of no motion throughout the section. Secondly, vertical section plots were contoured for various physical and chemical parameters to help identify and trace oceanographic features throughout the Pacific. Finally, calculations for stability were applied to each station in the section to evaluate the correlation between features of stability and those seen in the section plots. The depth of the level of no motion showed strong variability in the Pacific Ocean, Generally, deeper levels were found in the higher latitudes with shallowing towards the Equator. In the high southern latitudes, no level of least motion could be identified. This is consonant with the condition that the establishment of a level of no motion involves noticeable stratification of the water column. In high latitudes, the more nearly uniform distribution of density throughout the water column inhibits the formation of layers of high stability and stratified condition. It is also noted that a good general agreement is found between the depths of the layer of no motion and the observed oxygen minimum in the GEOSECS section. This is especially apparent in midlatitudes where the transition layer between the North and South Intermediate Waters and the Pacific Deep Waters is the region of the oxygen minimum. In the layer of the oxygen minimum, biochemical depletion occurs and there is likely to be minimal replenishment by horizontal and vertical advection and diffusion. Therefore, it is suggested that the oxygen minimum layer is closely related to a region of minimal horizontal movement. The calculation of the level of no motion in the Pacific GEOSECS sections supports this hypothesis. The large scale circulation in the Pacific Ocean is clearly pictured by the parameter section plots obtained from the Pacific GEOSECS expedition. The North Pacific and Antarctic Intermediate Waters are clearly defined from their origins to disappearance by low salinity and high nutrient levels. The extent of the Pacific Deep Water throughout the Pacific is seen. This large mass of relatively homogenous water can be seen from the South to the North Pacific. As the water moves northward, a gradual increase in nutrients and decrease in oxygen occurs. A third water type seen in the South Pacific is Antarctic Bottom Water. It intrusion into the South Pacific can be defined in terms of the 27.86 sigma theta surface or by such parameters as oxygen, silicate, and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU). In an attempt to correlate the various features seen in the vertical sections, stability profiles were prepared for each station. The vertical stability profiles did not show any strong features other than shallow and intermediate stability maxima. Recent discussion concerning a "benthic front" associated with the Antarctic Bottom Water intrusion into the South Pacific Ocean is not supported by any stability feature. Gradients in certain physical and chemical parameters do occur but the density gradients maximum expected in a frontal zone is not seen. / Graduation date: 1977

The sea as a dynamic conducting medium interacts continually with the earth' s magnetic field. The physical principles underlying this interaction are reviewed. These results are applied to the particular problem of towed electrodes at the sea surface. Data using this method are then shown to be sensitive to stability oscillations especially in lower latitudes. Finally, some features of the water velocity around the Panama Basin are investigated from towed electrode measurements. / Graduation date: 1970

Graduation date: 1969

Graduation date: 1977 / Best scan available for p.85-94, 99-100, 102-104, 106-115, 117-118, 120-121. Original is a photocopy of a computer printout.

In two experimental operations in deep water off the west coast of British Columbia, temperature and velocity microstructure have been recorded with a spatial resolution of 2 millimeters or better, from the thermocline down to a depth of 330 meters. Some measurements have been taken along horizontal paths at discrete depths, and, by superimposing a cycling vertical velocity on the constant forward motion, others have been taken along "saw—tooth" paths, revealing some new features of the fine structure of the ocean and the occurrence of turbulence below the thermocline. On one occasion sea-water conductivity was also measured, enabling the computation of density and examination of the occurrence and characteristics of the microstructure in relation to the density structure. Power spectra of velocity fluctuations have been computed and energy dissipation rates obtained. Estimates are made of mean energy dissipation as a function of depth and total dissipation throughout the ocean volume. The velocity spectra are compared with existing ideas of Kolmogoroff's universal spectral function for isotropic turbulence and discrepancies at high wavenumbers are attributed, at least in part, to the effect of buoyancy forces resulting from small scale density fluctuations. A new empirical version of the universal function is derived from what is considered to be the best ocean turbulence data available. Vertical transport of heat is calculated for a number of samples, from microscale measurements of temperature gradient and mean vertical gradient. A mean eddy coefficient of thermal diffusivity is estimated for the region. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

The distribution of the physical and chemical properties in Tofino Inlet is examined in this study. The presence of shallow thresholds in the entrances to the inlet prevents the exchange of deep water in the inlet with oceanic water of the same depth and restricts the intrusion of oceanic water to that of the surface layer. Replacement of the bottom water of the inlet occurs in the summer, when the density of the oceanic surface water is highest for the year, and accounts for the relatively high bottom temperatures, which are observed throughout the year. Between replacements the bottom water in the upper basins of Tofino stagnates and becomes anoxic. Under these stagnant conditions the oxygen supply of this water is used up. Eventually heterotrophic bacteria use sulphate as hydrogen acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter and produce hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. The production of these substances results in an increase In the alkalinity and a decrease in the pH of the water. Using certain assumptions regarding the oxidative processes, calculations are made which suggest that the observed anomalous increase in alkalinity is mainly due to the dissolution of calcium carbonate in these relatively acidic waters. A rate of oxygen utilization is calculated for the deep basin water and is used to determine whether or not replacement of the bottom water was likely during the summer of 1959. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

Phosphate, silicate and nitrate concentrations in the sea off the coast of Oregon were determined to study their seasonal distribution patterns. The water samples were collected monthly along the east-west hydrographic line off Newport, Oregon, from the shore to 165 miles (310 km) offshore. The samples were analyzed by both a Technicon Autoanalyzer® and by manual methods. Phosphate in January was greater than 0.5μM at the surface, increasing to a 3.3μM maximum at 1000m. A phosphate maximum occurred at 1000m throughout the year. With the onset of photosynthetic activity, there was a general decrease in surface concentrations. Concentrations decrease to less than 0.1μM in October with surface concentrations increasing in November and December, reaching a maximum in January. Silicate concentration was approximately 170μM at 2600m during the entire year. In January, surface silicate increased from less than 5μM offshore to 13μM nearshore; a weak silicate minimum was observed at a depth of 60m offshore and at 5m near the coast. In March nearshore surface concentrations were greater than 15μM due to increased coastal river runoff; the silicate concentrations of Oregon coastal rivers were 150-250μM. In July, a pronounced minimum occurred at 40-50m depth, where the concentration was less than 2μM. Summer surface concentrations were less than 2M offshore, increasing to 40μM nearshore as a result of coastal upwelling. Surface concentrations in October were generally less than 5FIM along the Newport hydrographic line with increased near shore concentrations due to river runoff. The nitrate maximum of 40-45μM existed at 1000- 1200m. In January surface concentrations ranged from 3μM offshore to 6μM nearshore. March values were lower, ranging from 11μM offshore to 5μM nearshore at NH-3 (6 km). In July patches of nitrate-free water were observed at 40-50m depth offshore, disappearing at 25 miles (46 km) off the coast, at station NH-25, as a result of the influence of upwelled and nitrate containing water. Late in October, nitrate concentrations were higher, 5-6μM, near the coast, and dropping to less than 0.1μM offshore. Patches of nitrate-free water were found from May to November. The existence of nitrate-free water near the surface indicated that the feature was formed by the photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton. The formation of the silicate minimum and oxygen maximum below or near the bottom of the Columbia River Plume during summer months indicated intense photosynthetic activity. Neither preformed phosphate nor preformed nitrate changed with depth below the layers of active photosynthetic processes. Preformed phosphate was generally 1.0-1.2μM below 200m with variation occurring in surface waters. For surface values, 1.2μM, the highest of the year, was observed in July in upwelled water; 0.4μM, the lowest, also occurred in July within the influence of the Columbia River Plume. The vertical distribution of preformed nitrate seemed to be random and may have reflected analytical techniques. The range was between 5 and 10μM with a maximum at 12μM. The 5μM values were found at approximately 200m with a maximum observed at 1000m deep. The highest surface values of preformed nitrate, 2.0-5.0μM, were observed in January and the lowest, 1.0-1.5μM, in July. March and October values were between the above extremes (1.1-2.0μM). / Graduation date: 1970