CONVERGENCE ZONE FEATURE DEPENDENCE ON OCEAN TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE

A model which provides a connection between deep-ocean temperature dat a and convergence zone phenomena is presented. Temperature variability below the mixed layer of the thermocline and SOFAR channel is modeled parametrically. A sound-speed profile is used which has closed form r ay solutions in a range-independent ocean. By incorporating the enviro nmental parameters into the sound speed and using the ray formulas for acoustic sources below the mixed layer, expressions for convergence z one widths and ranges are developed. Temperature profile data from the Sargasso Sea is used to construct a parameter domain representative o f statistically homogeneous deep-water masses. A parabolic equation mo del is used to assess the accuracy of the convergence zone formulas. G ood agreement is seen between the two models over the entire parameter domain. By varying the temperature parameters individually, convergen ce zone feature sensitivities to the parameters are characterized. (C) 1996 Acoustical Society of America.