Global barotropic variability of the ocean in response to atmospheric forcing based on multichannel regression and Kalman filter techniques

Chechelnitsky, Michael Y.

doi:10.1575/1912/5684

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…These results for the surface kinetic energy provide an immediate rationalization of the negative outcome of the search by Gaspar and Wunsch (1989), Fu and Davidson (1995), and Chechelnitsky (1996) for skill in barotropic model estimates of sea surface variability: the altimeter sees very little barotropic kinetic energy.…”

Section: Fig 13a As Inmentioning

confidence: 63%

The Vertical Partition of Oceanic Horizontal Kinetic Energy

Wunsch¹

1997

J. Phys. Oceanogr.

307

261

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To produce an interpretation of the surface kinetic energy as measured by altimeters, a survey is made of the vertical structure of kinetic energy profiles in a large number of globally distributed long current meter records. Although the data are geographically confined primarily to a latitude band in the North Pacific, to the North Atlantic, and to a few moorings in the South Atlantic, the results show, generally speaking, that most regions are dominated by the barotropic and first baroclinic modes. Because of the near-surface intensification of baroclinic modes altimeters primarily reflect the first baroclinic mode, and thus the motion of the main thermocline. There is good quantitative agreement, with a few exceptions, with estimates of the surface kinetic energy obtained from the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter and from vertical extrapolations to the surface of the mooring profiles. These results are consistent with previous suggestions that barotropic models have little skill in depicting variability as seen in the altimeter data. An EOF analysis is shown to produce fictitious mode coupling unless the dynamical modes have very different energy levels.

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Section: Fig 13a As Inmentioning

confidence: 63%

The Vertical Partition of Oceanic Horizontal Kinetic Energy

Wunsch¹

1997

J. Phys. Oceanogr.

307

261

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“…A linear ocean is much easier to understand than a nonlinear one, and hence the dynamical distinction is important. Attempts to find barotropic elements have tended to be inconclusive at best (Fu & Davidson 1995, Chechelnitsky 1996, except at high latitudes (see Fu & Smith 1996), presumably because barotropic modes in the altimeter record are masked by the near-surface amplification of the baroclinic ones (Wunsch 1997). Baroclinic motions have fast phase and group velocities in the tropics relative to mid-latitudes, which permits use in these regions of comparatively short records.…”

Section: Rossby Wave Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Satellite Altimetry, the Marine Geoid, and the Oceanic General Circulation

Wunsch

Stammer

1998

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

150

105

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For technical reasons, the general circulation of the ocean has historically been treated as a steady, laminar flow field. The recent availability of extremely highaccuracy and high-precision satellite altimetry has provided a graphic demonstration that the ocean is actually a rapidly time-evolving turbulent flow field. To render the observations quantitatively useful for oceanographic purposes has required order of magnitude improvements in a number of fields, including orbit dynamics, gravity field estimation, and atmospheric variability. With five years of very high-quality data now available, the nature of oceanic variability on all space and time scales is emerging, including new findings about such diverse and important phenomena as mixing coefficients, the frequency/wavenumber spectrum, and turbulent cascades. Because the surface elevation is both a cause and consequence of motions deep within the water column, oceanographers soon will be able to provide general circulation numerical models tested against and then combined with the altimeter data. These will be complete three-dimensional timeevolving estimates of the ocean circulation, permitting greatly improved estimates of oceanic heat, carbon, and other property fluxes.

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Global barotropic variability of the ocean in response to atmospheric forcing based on multichannel regression and Kalman filter techniques

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

The Vertical Partition of Oceanic Horizontal Kinetic Energy

The Vertical Partition of Oceanic Horizontal Kinetic Energy

Satellite Altimetry, the Marine Geoid, and the Oceanic General Circulation

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