Answered: The nearly uniform temperature and…

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)

9th Edition

ISBN:9780134746241

Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1LR

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1213-3

The nearly uniform temperature and salinity profiles of this surface layer indicate mixing by convection throughout the layer. Mixing is primarily due to the cooling of surface waters by the loss of heat upward to the colder atmosphere, which makes the surface ocean water denser. The denser surface water sinks until it reaches a level where it is neutrally buoyant and basically floats in the water column. Wind and wave agitation also drives convection. During the coldest part of the year, this convection layer gradually deepens as more heat energy is transported upward and lost to the atmosphere above.

12. Below the base of this convectively mixed layer in Figure 3B-3, the water temperature is ______ the temperature in the mixed layer.
a. less than
b. about the same as
c. greater than

13. Below the base of the mixed layer in Figure 3B-3, the salinity is ______ the salinity in the mixed layer.
a. less than
b. about the same as
c. greater than

Transcribed Image Text:**Graph Analysis and Description of APEX Float 5904471 Data** --- ### Analysis of Oceanographic Data from the Southern Ocean The graphs presented here display data collected by the Argo APEX Float 5904471 on November 23, 2018, in the Southern Ocean. This data is crucial for understanding the ocean's thermal and salinity characteristics at various depths. Below is a detailed explanation of each graph. #### Left Graph: Sea Temperature Profile **Title:** Sea Temperature - degree Celsius **X-axis:** Sea temperature in degrees Celsius (range: -1.5 to 1.0) **Y-axis:** Sea pressure in decibars (range: 0 to 1800) **Description:** The graph on the left plots the sea temperature against the sea pressure, showcasing how the temperature changes with depth. - **At Surface Level:** The temperature is fairly uniform, slightly above -1.5°C. - **At ~450 dbar:** There is a marked increase in temperature reaching up to approximately 0.7°C. - **Beyond 450 dbar:** A uniform temperature profile is observed as depth increases. This pattern indicates a thermocline around the 450 dbar level, where the temperature transition is rapid, hinting at stratification within the ocean columns. #### Right Graph: Practical Salinity Profile **Title:** Practical Salinity - psu **X-axis:** Practical salinity in PSU (Practical Salinity Units) (range: 34.3 to 34.7) **Y-axis:** Sea pressure in decibars (range: 0 to 1800) **Description:** The graph on the right shows the practical salinity against sea pressure, illustrating how salinity varies with depth. - **At Surface Level:** The salinity starts at approximately 34.4 PSU. - **At ~450 dbar:** The salinity increases sharply to about 34.7 PSU. - **Beyond 450 dbar:** The salinity holds steadily around 34.7 PSU as depth increases. Similar to the temperature, there is a noticeable change in salinity around the 450 dbar level, indicating a halocline. This layer shows a rapid increase in salinity with depth. ### Conclusion and Importance This data offers vital insights into the vertical structure of the Southern Ocean's water column. The temperature and salinity profiles are crucial in understanding ocean circulation, heat distribution,

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