The Heat Content of the Upper Ocean During Coastal Upwelling: Oregon, August 1973

Abstract

Data obtained at a time-series station during intense coastal upwelling off Oregon were applied to a model of heat conservation for the upper 8 m, and a thermal eddy diffusivity (horizontal) of 300 M2s?1 was computed. Horizontal advection and horizontal diffusion both appeared to be more important than surface heat exchange in producing changes in heat content. Hourly changes in heat content were quite large, and it appears that advection and diffusion varied appreciably in conjunction with changing tidal currents.