Browsing by Author "Shillington, Frank A"

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    Agulhas retroflection rings in the South Atlantic Ocean
    (1994) Duncombe Rae, Christopher Michael; Shillington, Frank A
    The western boundary current rings shed from the Agulhas retroflection may be responsible for a considerable transfer of heat, salt and energy from the South Indian into the South Atlantic Ocean. Few hydrographic measurements have been collected from Agulhas rings in the South Atlantic Ocean and their characteristics and influence on the waters of the Cape Basin through which they pass are thus little known. The temperature, salinity, and nutrient data presented in the thesis were collected from three Agulhas rings on a number of recent hydrographic cruises in the South Atlantic Ocean. Temperature profiles, conductivity-temperature-depth measurements, nutrient data, GEOSAT altimeter data, and NOAA-11 satellite imagery were used to investigate one of the rings in May 1989. It had previously been postulated that the rings could have an important effect on the Benguela upwelling system and this thesis demonstrates the interaction of the ring with a filament from the upwelling system. An adverse influence of this interaction on the anchovy larval population is postulated, and cited as a possible cause of the very poor anchovy yearclass of 1989. The other two rings were encountered during winter (August 1990 and June 1992), closer to the retroflection, and only hydrographic observations were possible. One of the rings showed a very deep isothermal surface layer and evidence of a deep pycnostad at its centre. The deep stad is shown to be likely due to vortex stretching and possible sources for the water in the stad are suggested. Comparative hydrographic characteristics, water mass structure, velocity fields, and the potential for contribution to interbasin transfer of the three rings are presented and discussed in the thesis.
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    A procedure for the computation of sea surface advection velocities from satellite thermal band imagery, with applications to the South East Atlantic Ocean
    (1992) Agenbag, Johannes Jacobus; Shillington, Frank A
    The research was carried out with a view to developing a procedure for the computation of sea surface advection velocities from pairs of NOAA AVHRR infrared images. The procedure was designed for application to the oceanic regions around South Africa and cognisance had to be taken of restrictions imposed by the specific oceanographic conditions, availability of satellite data, as well as the capabilities of the image processing system used. As a first step, a set of image navigation algorithms was developed, based on elliptical orbit and ellipsoidal earth models. Orbit parameters were obtained from TBUS-bulletins and one or more ground reference points had to be identified on each. The navigation algorithms were then used to develop a procedure for the geometric transformation of images to a Mercator map projection. The transformation procedure was evaluated through use of test-images and the results indicated that the maximum errors which could be expected in the computation of advection vectors were 4-5 cm/sin the north/south velocity component and 6-7 cm/sin the east/west component if two images, 12 hours apart in time, were used for the vector computation. An automatic feature tracking method was tested as a means for computing advection velocities but was found to be unsatisfactory. As a result, a 'semi-automated' procedure was developed. This process is essentially a manual (point-wise) feature tracking procedure into which the template matching technique which formed the basis of automated procedures, was incorporated as a labour saving device. Tests indicated a time saving of 20-40 % on the manual procedure and more rapid computation than with the automated procedure. The feature tracking procedure was applied to three sets of AVHRR images of the South East Atlantic. To assess the precision of the vector computation procedure, two independent vector sets were computed. A comparison of the two sets indicated that the rootmean- square deviation in vector magnitude (speed) was about 6-8 cm/sand in the vector direction, about 31° (12° if very small vectors ≤ 6 cm/s are excluded). The computed vectors compared very well with reported results from conventional methods. The derived vector fields also provide the first really detailed description of surface currents in the sea off South Africa: eg. on the flow field in the southern Benguela Current, the circulation associated with Agulhas Current rings, and advective influences on the transport of fish eggs and larvae from the spawning grounds on the Agulhas Bank to the favoured recruitment area off the West Coast.
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    Progress towards marine ecosystem observing systems in South Africa
    (2007) Moloney, Coleen L; Shillington, Frank A
    Marine ecosystem observing systems combine measurements, observations and models through a data management and interpretation process to provide information on the status of marine ecosystems. Both biotic and abiotic aspects of the marine environment need to be considered. Single variables typically can be used to represent aspects of the physical and chemical environment, but ecosystem indicators are required for the living components. There are no true marine ecosystem observing systems globally, because most observing systems focus on the physical environment. In South Africa, some fledgling systems are being developed, using the knowledge base provided by focused marine ecosystem research over the past 30 years. Further development should be based on international guidelines, which highlight three interrelated elements : (i) Measurements, obtained directly from ships, drifters or buoys, or remotely from satellites. In South Africa, sustained, long-term measurements are hampered by limited available ship's time, lack of suitable instruments, and insufficient qualified personnel. (ii) Models and other analytical tools to augment observations. South Africa is making progress in marine modelling, but not in marine data assimilation; qualified persons need to be attracted, trained and retained. (iii) Archived and disseminated data generated from measurements and models. The infrastructure and human and institutional capacity for data management and communication in South Africa needs to be enhanced. Existing programmes contribute towards the development of an effective marine ecosystem observing system, but its sustainability requires support at an institutional level.
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    Sea surface temperature-rainfall relationships and associated ocean-atmosphere coupling mechanisms in the southern African region
    (1989) Walker, Nan Delene; Shillington, Frank A
    The relationships between interannual sea surface temperature variability (SST) of the oceans surrounding southern Africa and summer rainfall variations over South Africa are investigated using statistical, observational and mechanistic approaches. Positive correlations are identified between summer rainfall and SSTs of the Mozambique/ Agulhas Current region, the Agulhas Retroflection region and the northern Benguela Current system. These relationships are stronger when rainfall anomalies associated with the Southern Oscillation are not considered. The observation of significant lag relationships involving temperatures of the Agulhas Current system suggests that future prediction efforts for summer rainfall will benefit from a consideration of SST anomaly patterns east and south of Africa, in combination with other atmospheric indices. Surface winds, heat fluxes and atmospheric boundary layer characteristics are investigated using compositing analyses to assess pertinent ocean-atmosphere coupling mechanisms. Easterly wind anomalies across the southwest Indian Ocean and over source regions of the Agulhas Current accompany and precede the local oceanic "warm events" which correspond with higher rainfall. Thus a class of event is identified in which warmer waters along the east coast and stronger easterly wind forcing accompany wetter seasons over South Africa. The atmospheric boundary layer is considerably warmer and moister in association with positive SST anomalies along the east coast and increased tropical airflow. Consequently, moisture convergence and tropical convection are increased over the eastern interior near 20° to 25°S. South of Africa, positive SST anomalies generate surface heat flux anomalies, increasing instability and moisture levels within the boundary layer. Horizontal heat flux gradients are strengthened across the Agulhas/Subtropical Convergence SST front and the conditions necessary for cyclogenesis and westerly wave amplification are optimized. Tropical-temperate troughs account for most of the abnormal rainfall during local Agulhas "warm events". The presence of positive SST anomalies east and south of southern Africa increases the likelihood of their formation by intensifying tropical and temperate components. The contribution provided by each component is influenced by the position and magnitude of the SST anomaly as well as the season of occurrence. Conceptual models are presented which summarize the most important ocean-atmosphere coupling mechanisms associated with rainfall variations of southern Africa.
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    Spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll concentrations from nimbus-7 coastal zone colour scanner data in the Benguala upwelling system and the sub-tropical convergence region south of Africa
    (1993) Weeks, Scarla Jeanne; Shillington, Frank A
    South African oceanographers were engaged in collecting hydrographic and biological sea truth data in order to calibrate the CZCS measurements from the NIMBUS-7 satellite over the Benguela Upwelling region and along the east coast of South Africa during the period 1978 to 1981. A brief overview of the CZCS validation programme and its application to the South African marine environment is given, followed by an analysis of level-Til CZCS data obtained from NASA for the region 10° - 60°S, and 10° - 100°E. This area includes the Benguela Upwelling system on the continental shelf, and the Southern Ocean with the Subtropical Convergence zone south of Africa. High annual values (5mg m⁻³) of chlorophyll occurred in the Benguela shelf region, typical of other upwelling systems in the world ocean, and the data shows a strong interannual signal in the seven years of composited data from 1978-1985, with maxima in 1982. Two distinct regimes were found in the Benguela Upwelling system, the seasonal variations of pigment concentration in the northern and southern Benguela regions being out of phase. In the Southern Ocean, the values of chlorophyll were generally low (0.15mg m⁻³) with the strongest signal (1.5mg m⁻³) found at the southern border of the Agulhas retroflection region and its frontal boundary with the colder subantarctic water to the south. The high values of chlorophyll found in this region are ten times the typical open Southern Ocean values. There is a clear interannual signal in the CZCS data for this Subtropi£al Convergence region, which has a low value in 1979 rising to a maximum in 1981 and then decreasing to another low value in 1985. There appears to be no pronounced seasonal variation in the Subtropical Convergence data. Reasons for the strong signal in the surface chlorophyll concentrations at the front between the Agulhas Return Current and the Southern Ocean are discussed, and it is shown that the Agulhas Plateau sets up a topographic Rossby wave in the Agulhas Return Current, which can be clearly identified in the CZCS signal. The large expanse of the Subtropical Convergence region is found as able to sustain a standing stock of phytoplankton similar in magnitude to that on the Benguela shelf, for limited periods of time. A brief analysis of sea surface temperature versus chlorophyll concentration shows the relationship between the two parameters to take the form of an inverted parabola, having a temperature window within which maximum chlorophyll concentrations are found.