Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Physical Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. / The thesis investigates the circulation at a 76-m deep study site on the southern flank of Georges Bank, a shallow submarine bank located between the deeper Gulf of Maine and the continental slope. Emphasis is placed on the vertical structure of the bottom boundary layer driven by the semidiurnal tides and the flow field's response to wind forcing. The observational analysis presented here is based on a combination of moored array and bottom tripod-mounted current, temperature, conductivity, and meteorological data taken between February and August 1995. Results from the bottom boundary layer analysis are compared to numerical model predictions for tidal flow over rough bottom topography. The flow response to wind forcing is examined and brought into context with the existing understanding of the wind-induced circulation in the Georges Bank region. Particular attention is given to the vertical distribution of the wind-driven currents, whose variation with background stratification is discussed and compared to observations from open ocean studies. / by Sandra Regina Warner. / Ph.D.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MIT/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/58515 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Werner, Sandra R. (Sandra Regina) |
| Contributors | Robert C. Beardsley., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution., Joint Program in Physical Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
| Publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | M.I.T. Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | ln----- |
| Rights | M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission., http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 |
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