How to convert potential temperature to temperature

[Alex5]

Dear all,

I want to calculate ocean heat content which is defined by temperature. Does anyone know how to convert potential temperature to temperature. Thanks.

Alex

[wilkin]

There is a "seawater" toolbox

in Matlab
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/datacentre/ext ... awater.htm

or Python
https://pypi.python.org/pypi/seawater/

[fdaryabor]

Dear,

You can use the attachment file.

Hope can help you.

[Alex5]

Thanks a lot. I will try them.

[Alex5]

There is a "seawater" toolbox

in Matlab
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/datacentre/ext ... awater.htm

or Python
https://pypi.python.org/pypi/seawater/

Dear Wilkin,

Could I ask another question, why roms use potential temperature instead of temperature? Actually, I am very new to ocean model, I am wondering if the ocean models prefer potential temperature. Thanks.

Alex

[wilkin]

If you could put seawater in a container that insulates it from exchanging heat with any of the surrounding water, then move it from one depth to another, its temperature will change by virtue of the compression due to pressure. However, its potential temperature would not. That's basically the definition of potential temperature. So this is what we want in an ocean model - the model temperature only changes in response to heat exchange from surface fluxes or mixing with adjacent water of a different temperature. Just moving from one depth to another does nothing.

[Alex5]

If you could put seawater in a container that insulates it from exchanging heat with any of the surrounding water, then move it from one depth to another, its temperature will change by virtue of the compression due to pressure. However, its potential temperature would not. That's basically the definition of potential temperature. So this is what we want in an ocean model - the model temperature only changes in response to heat exchange from surface fluxes or mixing with adjacent water of a different temperature. Just moving from one depth to another does nothing.

Thanks for your explanation.