Dynamic Height from Temperature Profiles

A method is developed for the computation of dynamic height from temperature data alone by using a mean T-S relationship to provide salinity values. This method is tested at three Pacific weathership locations where a large number of hydrographic stations were available. At weatherships Victor (34N, 164E) and November (30N, 140W), the difference between dynamic height found by this method and dynamic height computed from temperature and salinity observations was smaller (0.2 m2 s−2) than either the theoretical measurement error (0.4 m2 g−2;) or observed variation in dynamic height. At location Pape (50N, 145W), however, the difference was greater than the uncertainties in dynamic height, due to a thermal inversion. The small difference at Victor and November means that when the temperature salinity (T-S) relationship is “tight,” as it is at these locations, dynamic height can be computed from temperature (XBT) data alone.