Detecting changes in Labrador Sea Water through a water mass analysis of BATS data

[摘要] A new water mass analysis technique is used to analyse the BATSoceanographic data set in the Sargasso Sea of 1988–1998 for changes inLabrador Sea Water (LSW) properties. The technique is based on a sequentialquadratic programming method and requires careful definition of constraintsto produce reliable results. Variations in LSW temperature and salinityobserved in the Labrador Sea are used to define the constraints. It is shownthat to minimize the residuals while matching the observed temperature andsalinity changes in the source region the nitrate concentration in theLabrador Sea has to be allowed to vary as well. It is concluded that duringthe period of investigation nitrate underwent significant variations in theLabrador Sea.

[学科分类] 海洋学与技术