Browsing by Author "Rojas, Ricardo"
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Item Thermal Structure and Heat Fluxes at Bransfield Strait during SIBEX 1985 (SIBEX-Phase II, Chile)(1986) Rojas, RicardoDuring the austral summer of 1985 the second phase of SIBEX (Second International BIOMASS Experiment) took place. Chile, through the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), participated in this phase, during which a cruise named SIBEX-Phase II performed oceanographic observations in the Bransfield Strait, between January 20th and February 15th, 1985. The Instituto Hidrográfico de la Armada (IHA) continued the study of the thermal structure of the Bransfield Strait, which was initiated during SIBEX-Phase I. A total of 57 XBT and salinity samples were obtained. Using the meteorological data of the area a heat flux budget was made. The temperature distribution pattern of SIBEX-Phase I, was similar to that of SIBEX-Phase II though higher temperatures were found in the northern portion of the strait during the last cruise. Except for the level at 50 m depth, the temperatures between the two cruises were statistically not different (99% confidence). From the surface temperature, salinity and density distributions it was not evident the presence either of the formation of the meander between Deception and Brabant Islands or the Weddell Scotia Confluence south of Elephant and Clarence Islands. A cyclonic eddy located south of King George Island is suggested by the surface isopicnal distribution. Regarding the heat flux budget in the Bransfield Strait an atmosphere to ocean heat transfer of 222 ± 83.4 (cal/cm2 day) was obtained which agrees with heat flux estimates for the same period for the Southern Ocean (Gordon, 1981). Using a simple box model for the area, the rate of heat flux to the waters of the strait between atmosphere and advective processes is 2:1.