Introduction to Physical Oceanography
Homework Set 7
Due 12 November 2007

Late homework will cost 15 points per week or part of a week it is late.

In this assignment, you are asked to consider deep water types and their circulation based on the core method.

1. Using the T-S plot below, which is based on hydrographic data collected from the South Atlantic:
   1. Where in the South Atlantic is the station located (relative to land or prominent bottom features)? Please be specific, "South Atlantic" is not a acceptable answer.
   2. Assuming mixing occurs along straight lines, draw best-fitting straight lines through the water masses (points) in the figure. Use the intersections of the straight lines to determine water types. (see figure 13.9 in the text for an example).
      
      
      
   3. Do the observed data on the Temperature-Salinity curve fit the idea of water masses being formed by the mixing of waters from different water types, e.g. is the fit excellent, good, poor, or very poor?
   4. Please give your reasons for judgment.
      
      
2. What are the temperatures and salinities of the water types you plotted on the figure above? Using the temperatures and salinities of the water types on the figure, and the information in Table 13.1 of the class notes, what are the names of the water types you plotted on the figure?
   
3. Using the information in Section 13.4 of the Class Notes, what is the source of Antarctic Intermediate and Antarctic Bottom Waters? At what latitude do they originate?
   
4. The figure below shows the distribution of salinity in the Indian Ocean along 80° E from India to Antarctica. On the figure, draw the mid-line of at least one core, and sketch the possible flow of water in the core as indicated by the distribution of salinity.
   




5. List at least four different types of tracers that could be used with the core method.

Revised on: 25 May, 2007