Fine scale measurements of the vertical temperature profile in an Arctic water column show the presence of several cascaded isothermal layers. Layers between the depths of 300 anid 350 meters range from 2 to 10 meters in thickness, while the temperature change between adjacent layers is approximately 0.026 degrees C. The individual layers are isothermal to within +/- 0.001 degrees C.
Marked step‐like structure exists in vertical profiles of temperature and salinity obtained in the Arctic Ocean. This structure occurs between 200 and 500 meters depth, where both temperature and salinity increase with depth. Nominally, the structure consists of thin sheets (0.1 meter thick) separating adjacent homogeneous layers (3 meters thick) that differ in temperature by 0.02°C and in salinity by 0.01‰. While the step structure is quite persistent, its character varies markedly with depth. Intermediate layers have been observed, as well as noncoincident temperature and salinity gradient sheets. Analysis of the data lends support to the hypothesis that this type of layering arises from the double‐diffusive process.
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