Stratified Layer Research Articles

Development of HAWT wake under thermal stratification conditions

The evolution analysis of the wind wake downstream of a rotor submerged in a stratified atmospheric boundary layer is discussed in this work. The hybrid model AD-CFD is used, to obtain the velocity field. The changes in thermal stratification are taken into account when solving the energy conservation equation. Results from the unstable stratification case indicate a 41% velocity deficit and 30% is found for stable thermal stratification, at z = 1D. this work show that in a stratified atmospheric boundary layer, an isolated wind turbine’s ability to produce electricity is more impacted by stable thermal stratification than by unstable ones.

14-3-3ε conditional knockout mice exhibit defects in the development of the epidermis.

The epidermis is a stratified epithelium that functions as the first line of defense against pathogenic invasion and acts as a barrier preventing water loss. In this study, we aimed to decipher the role of 14-3-3ε in the development of the epidermis. We report that loss of 14-3-3ε in the epidermis of juvenile and adult mice reduces cell division in the basal layer and increases the percentage of cells with multiple centrosomes, leading to a reduction in the thickness of the basal and stratified layers. We also demonstrate a decrease in the expression of differentiation markers, although no gross morphological defects in the skin or adverse effects on the survival of the mice were observed. These results suggest that loss of 14-3-3ε in the epidermis may lead to defects in proliferation and differentiation.

Research on the Dynamic Response of a Bedding Rock Slope Reinforced by Pile–Anchor Structures Under Earthquakes: A Case Study of a Section of the Duyun-Shangri-La Expressway Project in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, China

Pile and anchor structures are extensively employed for slope stabilization. However, their dynamic response under seismic loading remains unclear and current seismic designs primarily use the pseudo-static method. Here, a three-dimensional numerical simulation of the dynamic behavior of a bedding rock slope supported by pile–anchor systems under earthquakes is conducted. The dynamic calculation for the slope subjected to seismic forces with varying excitation directions and acceleration amplitudes is performed. The dynamic behavior of both the slope and the pile–anchor system is investigated with respect to the slope’s failure mode, the dynamic soil pressure behind the pile, the anchor axial force, the bending moment, and the lateral displacement of the pile. The results indicate that the anti-slide piles cause a reflective and superposition effect on seismic waves within weak rock layers. As the input seismic intensity increases, the axial force in the anchor cables also increases, with the peak axial force occurring during the main energy phase of the seismic waves. The dynamic soil pressure acting behind the piles varies with the stratification of the slope rock layers, with lower peak dynamic earth pressure observed in weak layers. The weak layers on the slope surface experience through-shear failure. Under strong seismic loading, the structural element state undergoes significant changes.

Synergistic Impact of Diurnal Warm Layers and Inertial Wave Mixing on Sea Surface Temperature Warming and Upper Ocean Stratification

AbstractWe study two sea surface temperature (SST) warming events and upper ocean stratification changes in the northern South China Sea in 2022 using data from an EM‐APEX float and satellite observations. The diurnal warm layers (DWLs) and the increasing buoyancy frequency N2 above the top of the thermocline can restrict the penetration depth of nighttime convection and wind‐driven mixing, which prevents cooler water from mixing upward, allowing solar heating to increase the SST by more than 1°C in a few days. The stratification budget approach is used to reproduce observations below 40 m despite some uncertainties in estimating variables such as horizontal gradient. After the first SST warming event, the stratification changes in the subsurface layers constituted by an increase in N2 above 70 m and a decrease below this depth can be attributed to the combined effects of turbulent diffusion and vertical advection rather than to horizontal advection or penetrative solar radiation. This ocean interior mixing is likely caused by the shear of near‐inertial waves at ∼50 m, when the nighttime convection could not penetrate through the DWL's base around 20 m. The stratification budget approach fails to simulate the changes above 40 m after the second SST warming event partly due to the presence of a near‐surface freshwater layer. Our observations offer insights into the effect of inertial wave‐induced mixing in the ocean interior when near‐surface stratified layers are present, which can lead to changes in upper ocean stratification and SST.

CFD simulation of the stratified atmospheric boundary layer: consistency between Monin-Obukhov similarity theory and the standard k-ε model

Including thermal stratification in CFD simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow is important for a wide range of applications, from pollutant dispersion over wind energy farm performance to urban thermal microclimate. One of the most important prerequisites for accurate CFD simulations of thermally stratified ABL flow is horizontal homogeneity. Horizontal homogeneity refers to the absence of unintended streamwise gradients in the approach-flow profiles of mean velocity, turbulence quantities and temperature when flowing from the inlet of the domain to the location of interest in the domain, over uniformly rough level terrain. This paper proposes a generic and consistent solution to maintain horizontal homogeneity in CFD simulations of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) based stratified ABL flow. A new description is proposed for the coefficient Cε3, which appears in the buoyancy term in the transport equation of the turbulence dissipation rate. This proposed solution is successfully demonstrated by simulations in an empty domain for four stability conditions (1/L = 1/152.4 m−1, 1/1071.7 m−1, 0 m−1 and -1/296.3 m−1), where the standard k-ε turbulence model with the new Cε3 is shown to well maintain the profiles of U, ε and T with only minor deviations for the k profiles. The performance of the turbulence model with the new Cε3 is also illustrated by the flow around a rectangular building under thermal stratification.

Observations of Elevated Mixing and Periodic Structures Within Diurnal Warm Layers

AbstractSurface drifters (SWIFTs) equipped with down‐looking high‐resolution acoustic doppler current profilers (ADCPs) were used to estimate the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate within highly stratified diurnal warm layers (DWLs) in the Southern California Bight. Over a 10‐day period, five instances of DWLs were observed with strong surface temperature anomalies up to 3°C and velocity anomalies up to 0.3 m . Profiles of in the upper 5 m suggest turbulence is strongly modulated by the DWL stratification. Burst‐averaged (8.5 min) is stronger than predicted by law‐of‐the‐wall boundary layer scaling within the DWLs and suppressed below. Predictions for within the DWLs are improved by a shear‐production scaling using observed shear and linearly decaying turbulent stress. However, is still under‐predicted. Examination of the un‐averaged acoustic backscatter data suggests elevated is related to the presence of turbulent structures in the DWLs which span the layer height and strongly modulate TKE. Evolution in the bulk Richardson number each day suggests the DWLs become unstable to layer‐scale overturning and entrainment each afternoon, thus the turbulent structures may result from shear‐driven instability. This interpretation is supported by a conditional average of the data during a burst characterized by strongly periodic structures. The structures resemble high‐frequency internal waves with strong asymmetry in the along‐flow direction (steepening) which suggests they are unstable. Coincident asymmetric patterns in upwelling/downwelling and corresponding regions of strong vertical convergence/divergence suggest that both vertical transport and local TKE generation are plausible sources of elevated in the DWLs.

Flow regimes in a melting system composed of binary fluid: transition from penetrative convection to diffusion

In a horizontally heated melting system, where a solid substance is subject to melting by a warmer liquid beneath, the presence of solute in the liquid introduces a complex interplay between temperature and concentration dynamics. Employing a recently developed sharp interface method (Xue et al., J. Comput. Phys., vol. 491, 2023), we conduct direct numerical simulations to investigate the transient behaviour of the system across a broad range of Rayleigh numbers and solute concentrations. Our observations reveal distinct flow regimes: at low concentrations, the system resembles a temperature-driven melting problem, characterized by vortex rolls beneath the melting interface. As the solute concentration increases, a stably stratified layer emerges beneath the interface, leading to the transition from thermal convection to penetrative convection, which resembles those flow characteristics observed in the double-diffusive convection. This shift results from the competition between the stabilizing effect induced by solute concentration gradient and the destabilizing effect caused by temperature gradient. Otherwise in the diffusion regime, characterized by very high solute concentrations, the flow becomes static due to the complete suppression of convection by the stably stratified layer. This regime further exhibits two distinct patterns: ‘melting’ and ‘dissolution’. Beyond characterizing diverse flow patterns, our study conducts a quantitative analysis, examining heat/mass transfer, melting rates, and the evolution of temperature and concentration at the interface. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the intricate interplay between temperature and solute concentration during phase change, with implications for accurately estimating melting rates in binary fluid systems.

Wind Tunnel Experiment on the Footprint of a Block-Arrayed Urban Model in a Neutrally Stratified Boundary Layer

This study addresses the need to investigate footprint function features in urban areas and establish a validation database for numerical methods. Concentration and its flux footprints of a block-arrayed urban model were measured in a wind tunnel with a neutrally stratified boundary layer. The velocity and concentration were simultaneously measured by an X-probe hot wire anemometer and a fast-response flame ionization detector to evaluate the vertical flux. Experimental results highlighted the influence of the measurement heights on footprint distributions. Because the sensors were immersed in the roughness sublayer, their footprints showed strong heterogeneity across horizontal positions caused by building configurations. It was found that turbulent flux contributes up to 70% of total flux footprints, emphasizing the importance of accurate turbulent dispersion estimation in numerical methods. Furthermore, measured footprints were compared to those modeled by a widely used analytical method (Kormann and Meixner in Boundary-Layer Meteorol 99:207–224, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1023/ A:1018991015119). The measured footprints extended further along the streamwise direction and their spanwise dispersions were constrained by the rows of blocks, which failed to be reproduced in the analytical method. This indicates the significant effects of building configurations on footprint functions in urban areas.

Diagnosing tracer transport in convective penetration of a stably stratified layer

We use large-eddy simulations to study the penetration of a buoyant plume carrying a passive tracer into a stably stratified layer with constant buoyancy frequency. Using a buoyancy-tracer volume distribution, we develop a method for objectively partitioning plume fluid in buoyancy-tracer space into three regions, each of which corresponds to a coherent region in physical space. Specifically, we identify a source region where undiluted plume fluid enters the stratified layer, a transport region where much of the transition from undiluted to mixed fluid occurs in the plume cap and an accumulation region corresponding to a radially spreading intrusion. This method enables quantification of different measures of turbulence and mixing within each of the three regions, including potential energy and turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates, an activity parameter and the instantaneous mixing efficiency. We find that the most intense buoyancy gradients lie in a thin layer at the cap of the penetrating plume. This provides the primary stage of mixing between plume and environment and exhibits a mixing efficiency around 50 %. Newly generated mixtures of environmental and plume fluid join the intrusion and experience relatively weak turbulence and buoyancy gradients. As the intrusion spreads radially, environmental fluid surrounding the intrusion is mixed into the intrusion with moderate mixing efficiency. This dominates the volume of environmental fluid entrained into the region containing plume fluid. However, the ‘strongest’ entrainment, as measured by the specific entrainment rate, is largest in the plume cap, where the most buoyant environmental fluid is entrained.

What controls the onset of winter stratification in a deep, dimictic lake?

AbstractThe transition from summer stratification to winter stratification is considered for deep, dimictic Lake Superior. The fall transition is dynamically distinct from the better‐studied spring transition; it is characterized by a wind‐driven collapse of weakening summer stratification, a surface‐cooling–driven period during which the water column is essentially isothermal, and eventual onset of inverse (cold upper layer) stratification, after which sub‐thermocline water temperatures are largely fixed for the rest of the season. Due to the small value of thermal expansivity near the temperature of maximum density, temperature gradients do not impart much stability to the water column, and it is difficult for winter stratification to form immediately upon dropping below the temperature of maximum density. Instead, the water column continues to cool until the thermal expansivity is sufficiently large in magnitude to allow temperature gradients to impart stability. This observation implies that the temperature locked into the deep water for the winter season will be a consequence of the specific meteorological forcing experienced in a given year; there may be long‐term climate change driven trends in the timing of the onset of stratification but not trends in winter deep‐water temperature. To address this hypothesis, 15 yr of moored temperature data collected in Lake Superior are examined, and a scaling argument and climatological data are applied to better understand interannual variability in the onset of winter stratification.

Micropolar fluid-thin elastic structure interaction: variational analysis

We consider the non-stationary flow of a micropolar fluid in a thin channel with an impervious wall and an elastic stiff wall, motivated by applications to blood flows through arteries. We assume that the elastic wall is composed of several layers with different elastic characteristics and that the domains occupied by the two media are infinite in one direction and the problem is periodic in the same direction. We provide a complete variational analysis of the two dimensional interaction between the micropolar fluid and the stratified elastic layer. For a suitable data regularity, we prove the existence, the uniqueness and the regularity of the solution to the variational problem associated to the physical system. Increasing the data regularity, we prove that the fluid pressure is unique, we obtain additional regularity for all the unknown functions and we show that the solution to the variational problem is solution for the physical system, as well.

Studies of the cultural layer of the cities of Ufa and Birsk (based on the example of the work of the archaeological expedition of the "Ancient Ufa" museum-reserve)

The article presents the results of an analysis of the latest data of recent years, obtained during archaeological research of the first fortified settlements on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan. In the course of the work the analysis reviewed materials from archaeological heritage sites located in the historical center of the modern cities of Ufa (“Hillfort Ufa-II” and “Cultural layer of Ufa dated the late 18th – early 20th century at 29 Sochinskaya street”) and Birsk (“Old Birsk, historical cultural layer and burial ground”). Despite the fact that archaeological sites are subject to a significant anthropogenic influence, the obtained corpus of sources complements the information about the formation of the Russian population and their local tangible culture in chronological terms between 16th and the early 20th century. Studied fragments of pottery revealed differences and features of pottery traditions in the ornamentation, shapes of dishes and additional processing. The materials obtained from the site of Ufa-II indicate local damage (redeposited layer) of the cultural layer and no stratified layers of the New Age. Despite a more significant anthropogenic impact Sochinskaya Street is found with a local patch of preserved cultural layer dated by the period in question. Thus, it will make the reconstruction of the main stages of development of the immediate surroundings of the Ufa Kremlin possible. Alongside it will allow analysis of the adjacent territory. The research on the territory of Birsk documents a good condition of the lower cultural layer of the 17th–18th centuries. The potential of archaeological research of the city lies not only in studying the local features of the tangible culture of the local population, but also in the opportunity to describe the period of the early Russian settlement in Bashkiria in the 16th–18th centuries.

Characterization of marine heat waves in the Iberia–Biscay–Ireland (IBI) region in 2022

Abstract. Marine heat waves (MHWs) are defined as prolonged periods of anomalously high sea surface temperatures. These events have a profound impact on marine ecosystems, resulting in ecological and economic impacts such as coral bleaching, reduced surface chlorophyll due to increased surface layer stratification, mass mortality of marine invertebrates due to heat stress, rapid species migrations, and fishery closures or quota changes, among others. This research focuses on the study of the MHWs that occurred in the IBI (Iberia–Biscay–Ireland) region during the year 2022, assessing their climatologic properties, analyzing the mean values for the year 2022, and discretizing the events in four subregions representative of the entire domain. Satellite-derived sea surface temperature data were used to detect and characterize the events, revealing that in some areas the year 2022 showed peak anomaly values of (i) 15 MHW events, (ii) 128 d of mean durations, and (iii) 261 total days of MHWs. Through observational and modeling data, the discrete events located in the Bay of Biscay were also examined in the subsurface layers, demonstrating a strong seasonal modulation and heat diffusion through deeper layers, where cold-season events reach higher MHW mean depth values and subsurface positive anomalies of temperature can remain for weeks once an MHW has ended.

Laboratory-scale study of mixed barriers in stratified layers with an inclined ocean aquifer boundary

The over-pumping of freshwater makes shoreline aquifers susceptible to seawater intrusion. Most studies on aquifer homogeneity that are used to form management guidelines focus on salinization sensitivity. However, under certain extraction conditions, the geographic structure can be quite diverse, with low-permeability obstacles and preferred flow routes that affect circulation and saline transport mechanisms. Here, we used a laboratory-scale glass box apparatus of dimension 100 × 50 × 10 cm3 to study intrusion in stratified layers under the influence of an inclined ocean-aquifer boundary with a mixed barrier as a remediation technique. The TL\\H ratio ranged from 0.2 to 12.84 for all stratification conditions and remediation installed. There was a 40–48 % decrease in the extent of toe length after installation. With a mixed barrier installed, the height of the intrusion was reduced, resulting in an increase in the TL\\H and a decrease in the potential for toe length. The intrusion was delayed by 86.67 % in parallel stratification and 28.22 % in perpendicular stratification after comparing the time frame for base case and the mixed barrier installed condition. A parabolic profile of intrusion was observed in the low-permeability layer, while a convex-outward profile was observed in the higher-permeability layers. Similar results are obtained after conducting the sensitivity analysis. The intrusion follows an increasing pattern of ratio with increasing interaction gap opening in parallel stratification, while for perpendicular stratification, with gap opening from 10 cm to 30 cm, there was a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend, indicating an increase in magnitude with a similar pattern of intrusion. The results of this investigation shed light on the mixed barrier's suitability for use in realistically diverse coastal aquifers. Future research could explore the utilization of different combinations of new barriers, such as under-surface barriers, which work well for stratified layers, and already established barrier systems, to further improve the efficiency of mixed barriers.

Quantifying the influence of snow over sea ice morphology on L-band passive microwave satellite observations in the Southern Ocean

Abstract. Antarctic snow on sea ice can contain slush, snow ice, and stratified layers, complicating satellite retrieval processes for snow depth, ice thickness, and sea ice concentration. The presence of moist and brine-wetted snow alters microwave snow emissions and modifies the energy and mass balance of sea ice. This study assesses the impact of brine-wetted snow and slush layers on L-band surface brightness temperatures (TBs) by synergizing a snow stratigraphy model (SNOWPACK) driven by atmospheric reanalysis data and the RAdiative transfer model Developed for Ice and Snow in the L-band (RADIS-L) v1.0 The updated RADIS-L v1.1 further introduces parameterizations for brine-wetted snow and slush layers over Antarctic sea ice. Our findings highlight the importance of including both brine-wetted snow and slush layers in order to accurately simulate L-band brightness temperatures, laying the groundwork for improved satellite retrievals of snow depth and ice thickness using satellite sensors such as Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP). However, biases in modelled and observed L-band brightness temperatures persist, which we attribute to small-scale sea ice heterogeneity and snow stratigraphy. Given the scarcity of comprehensive in situ snow and ice data in the Southern Ocean, ramping up observational initiatives is imperative to not only provide satellite validation datasets but also improve process-level understanding that can scale up to improving the precision of satellite snow and ice thickness retrievals.

Corneal epithelial-stromal constructs to study differences associated with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease associated with severe macrovascular and microvascular complications that influence nearly every tissue in the body, including the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. In the cornea, DM is associated with recurrent epithelial erosion and reduced wound-healing capacity, which increases the risk of corneal scarring. We previously developed a co-culture model of the cornea consisting of immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (hCE-TJ) overlaying a self-assembled stromal layer generated by human corneal fibroblasts (hCFs) over a 4-week period. In this study, we investigated epithelial-stromal constructs generated from hCFs derived from subjects with Type 1 (T1DM) or 2 diabetes (T2DM) compared to controls. We found that T2DM constructs exhibited a disrupted epithelium and a thicker, stratified stromal layer compared to controls or T1DM. Both T1DM and T2DM stromal constructs expressed lower expression of thrombospondin-1 in isolated extracellular vesicles (EVs) compared to controls with no significant difference observed in the presence of epithelial cells, suggesting that reduced provisional matrix secretion in the corneal stroma may be a factor that promotes delayed corneal wound healing in diabetes. The tetraspanins are established extracellular vesicle (EV) markers and include CD63, CD81, and CD9, and were highly expressed by EVs in all three cell types. Control corneal stromal fibroblasts produced more and larger EVs when compared to T1DM and T2DM hCF-derived EVs, supporting a role for altered cell-cell communication in the context of DM. Further characterization of EVs and their cargo is expected to aid in the development of targeted treatments to improve corneal wound healing.

463 Cyber-Physical Systems with robots and AI for precision dairy farming

Abstract The emergence of precision livestock farming (PLF) offers a transformative lens through which to prioritize animal welfare. At the heart of this transformation lies the rumen, a complex microbial ecosystem within dairy cows responsible for converting feed into nutrients and impacting cow health, productivity, and environmental footprint. Despite its pivotal role, our understanding of the inner workings of the rumen remains limited due to a lack of real-time monitoring tools. My research leverages AI and robotics in PLF to address this gap, focusing on developing a closed-loop system for continuous, in-vivo rumen monitoring. This system employs cyber-physical systems (CPS) embedded with modular sensors and adaptive algorithms. These sensor modules, powered by AI-based data tracking, autonomously monitor rumen temperature, humidity, pressure, and methane concentration, enabling early detection of imbalances and prompt interventions to maintain optimal rumen health. A key innovation is the self-powered in-vivo robot capable of traversing the rumen’s stratified layers. Guided by AI-powered localization, this robot unlocks unparalleled access to new data, aiding in identifying specific regions associated with conditions like subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and methane production. This non-invasive approach eliminates the need for traditional cannulation, minimizing stress on the animal and opening new avenues for animal scientists. The impact of this research extends beyond individual cow health. By optimizing rumen function, we can improve feed efficiency, reduce methane emissions, and promote overall sustainability in dairy farming. Additionally, real-time data insights pave the way for precision nutrition, tailored interventions, and improved disease prevention, directly enhancing animal welfare. This novel approach to rumen monitoring represents a significant step towards realizing the full potential of PLF. By integrating AI and robotics, we can usher in a future where animal welfare and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand, ultimately contributing to a more responsible and ethical dairy industry.

17.2% Efficiency for Completely Non‐Fused Acceptor Organic Solar Cells Via Re‐Intermixing Strategy in D/A Stratified Active Layer

AbstractPursuing power conversion efficiency (PCE) is the priority of developing organic solar cells (OSCs) based on low‐cost completely non‐fused ring acceptors. Herein, a donor/acceptor re‐intermixing strategy to enhance the photon capturing process, based on a previously established well‐stratified active layer morphology is reported. By adding 20 wt% PTQ10 (polymer donor) into the acceptor's precursor, the device PCE is increased to 16.03% from 15.11% of the D18/A4T‐16 control system, which is attributed to the additional charge generation interface and suppressed bimolecular recombination. On the contrary, using the equal ratio of PM6 leads to significant efficiency loss, indicating the importance of considering vertical distribution from the perspective of thermodynamics. Moreover, a cutting‐edge level of 17.21% efficiency for completely non‐fused ring acceptor systems is realized by altering the active layer to PBQx‐TF/TBT‐26 and PTQ11, via the identical processing strategy. This work thus presents attractive device engineering and solar cell performance, as well as in‐depth vertical morphology understanding.

Five decades' experience of long‐term soil monitoring, and key design principles, to assist the EU soil health mission

AbstractThe European Union has a long‐term objective to achieve healthy soils by 2050. The European Commission has proposed a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law, SML), the first stage of which is to focus on setting up a soil monitoring framework and assessing soils throughout the EU. Situated in NW Europe, the UK has substantial experience in soil monitoring over the last half century which may usefully contribute to this wider EU effort. A set of overarching principles have and continue to guide design of national soil monitoring and may prove helpful as other European countries embark on similar monitoring programmes. Therefore, we present the principles of design from five decades of national soil monitoring. The monitoring discussed is based on a stratified‐random design, has matured in support of policy questions, and operates over space and time scales relevant to the SML. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) Countryside Surveys (CS) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Welsh Government, Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring and Modelling Programme (ERAMMP) and the England Ecosystem Survey (EES) monitoring programme are national programmes currently operating in the UK. Some important lessons learnt include: adopting a question‐based approach; having a clear robust statistical design for the purpose; selecting indicators that address policy and underlying scientific questions; and selecting indicators that can detect change and use robust and well‐tested methodologies across a wide range of soil and land use types, remaining valid over long time scales, supporting thinking long‐term. Technical lessons learned include the proven cost effectiveness of a stratified‐random design including replication, while adopting a common stratification layer of stable environmental attributes aids comparability between monitoring programmes. Common protocols are vital for future intercomparisons, but a full ecosystem approach that includes co‐located soil and vegetation samples for interpreting a co‐evolving system has proved hugely advantageous. UK monitoring programmes offer a range of experience that may prove valuable to future soil monitoring design to address the major societal challenges of our time, such as maintaining food production and addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Seasonal Variations of the Thermocline in the Banda Sea and its Water Mass Characteristics

This research was conducted to examine the seasonal variations in the Banda Sea's thermocline layer and its water mass characteristics. The research was conducted by analyzing Argo Float data. The data consists of six observation stations in West Season and Transitional Season II, and four stations in Transition Season I and East Season The thermocline layer thickness was identified based on the depth where the temperature decreased ≥ 0.05oC/m. The thermocline layer's distribution of depth and thickness and the distribution of temperature and salinity seasonally in the thermocline layer were analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010. The analysis results showed that East Season and Transition Season II have a shallower upper boundary depth of the thermocline layer, a deeper lower boundary of the thermocline layer, and the thermocline layer is thicker when compared to the West Season and Transition Season I. The average temperature distribution is higher and the average salinity is lower in the West Season and Transition Season I. The mean rate of change in salinity and temperature in the thermocline layer seasonally ranged from 0.002-0.004 PSU/m and 0.06-0.08oC/m. The thermocline layer's stratification is stronger in the West Season and Transition Season I.