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Observing the bottom density current over a shelf using an Argo profiling float
Author(s) -
Vilibić Ivica,
Mihanović Hrvoje
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/grl.50215
Subject(s) - argo , geology , salinity , oceanography , float (project management) , temperature salinity diagrams , environmental science , current (fluid) , meteorology , marine engineering , geography , engineering
Pressure, temperature, and salinity data collected during the winter of 2011/2012 by an Argo profiling float over the Adriatic shelf were used to document the dense water formation and subsequent bottom density current (BDC) normally occurring along the shelf slope. The float was advected to the Jabuka Pit and neighboring shallow area (<275 m) after October 2010. The parking depth was set to approximately 150 m, enabling the float to mostly follow the firstOnlineseabed between December 2011 and July 2012. The profiler measured strong spatial‐temporal changes in the BDC thickness (from a few to about 50 m) and the bottom density (between 29.46 and 29.88 kg/m 3 ). These observations show that an Argo float has the capability to observe a bottom density current and suggest that it would be possible to systematically use such floats to investigate these processes on coastal shelves.