Comparison of TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Derived Wind Speed and Wave Parameters with Ocean Buoy Data in the North Indian Ocean

Results of comparison exercises carried out between the state-of-the-art TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter-derived ocean surface wind speed and ocean wave parameters (significant wave height and wave period) and those measured by a set of ocean data buoys in the North Indian Ocean are presented in this article. Altimeter-derived significant wave height values exhibited rms deviation as small as - 0.3 m, and surface wind speed of - 1.6 m/s. These results are found consistent with those found for the Pacific Ocean. For estimation of ocean wave period, the spectral moments-based semiempirical approach, earlier applied on GEOSAT data, was extended to TOPEX/POSEIDON. For this purpose, distributions of first four years of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data and climatology over the North Indian Ocean were analyzed and a new set of coefficients generated for estimation of wave period. It is shown that wave periods thus estimated from TOPEX/POSEIDON data (for the subsequent two years), when compared with independent data set of ocean data buoys deployed in the North Indian Ocean, exhibit improved accuracy (rms ~ - 1.4 nos) over those determined earlier with GEOSAT data.     

Determination of Ocean Wave Period from Altimeter Data Using Wave-Age Concept

This study makes use of the concept of wave age in estimating ocean wave period from space borne altimeter measurements of backscattering coefficient and significant wave height. Introduction of wave age allowed better accounting of the difference between swells and wind waves. Using two years (1998 and 1999) data of TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter and ocean data buoy observations in the Indian Ocean, coefficients were generated for wave period, which were subsequently tested against data for the years 2000 and 2001. The results showed the wave period accuracy to be of the order of 0.6 sec (against 1.3 sec obtained with the semiempirical approach, reported earlier).     

Determination of Ocean Wave Period from Altimeter Data Using Wave-Age Concept

This study makes use of the concept of wave age in estimating ocean wave period from space borne altimeter measurements of backscattering coefficient and significant wave height. Introduction of wave age allowed better accounting of the difference between swells and wind waves. Using two years (1998 and 1999) data of TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter and ocean data buoy observations in the Indian Ocean, coefficients were generated for wave period, which were subsequently tested against data for the years 2000 and 2001. The results showed the wave period accuracy to be of the order of 0.6 sec (against 1.3 sec obtained with the semiempirical approach, reported earlier).     

1957～2002年南海—北印度洋海浪场波候特征分析

利用ERA-40海表10 m风场驱动第三代海浪数值模式WAVEWATCH-Ⅲ,得到南海—北印度洋1957年9月至2002年8月的海浪场,并分析其波候(风候)特征.研究发现如下主要特征:(1)该海域的波高波向、风速风向受季风影响显著;(2)北印度洋大部分海域的海表风速呈显著性逐年线性递增趋势,大约0.01～0.02 m/(s·a),南海线性递增的区域则较少,有效波高呈显著性逐年线性递增的区域主要集中在低纬度中东印度洋(约0.003～0.006 m/a)、索马里附近海域(大约0.002～0.005 m/a)、南海大部分海域(约0.002～0.004 m/a),线性递减的区域主要集中在孟加拉湾海域(约-0.002 m/a);(3)Nino3指数与南海—北印度洋的海表风场、浪场存在密切的关系;(4)南海—北印度洋的海表风速与有效波高存在5.2a左右的共同周期,南海的海表风速、有效波高还存在2.0a左右的共同周期,北印度洋的海表风速、有效波高还存在26.0a的长周期震荡.     

Multi-satellite ocean tide modelling—the K1 constituent

All major ocean tide constituents are aliased into signals with periods less than 90 days from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry, except the K₁ constituent. The aliased K₁ has a period of 173 days. Consequently, it might be confounded with height variations caused by the semiannual cycle having a period of 183 days.The correlation between K₁ and the semiannual signal has been investigated both locally and globally using combinations of T/P, ERS-1 and GEOSAT observations. Subsequently, two empirical methods have been investigated to improve the mapping of K₁ from multiple satellites.At high latitudes, where the presence of crossing tracks cannot separate K₁ from the semiannual signal from TOPEX/POSEIDON, the importance of including ERS-1 and GEOSAT observations was demonstrated. A comparison with 29 pelagic and coastal tide gauges in the Southern Ocean south of 50°S gave 5.59 (M₂), 2.27 (S₂) and 5.04 (K₁) cm RMS agreement for FES95.1 ocean tide model. The same comparison for the best empirical estimated constituents based on TOPEX/POSEIDON + ERS-1 + GEOSAT gave 4.32, 2.21, and 4.29 cm for M₂, S₂ and K₁, respectively.     

JASON-1与TOPEX/POSEIDON卫星高度计数据在中国海和西北太平洋的一致性分析及印证

利用JASON-1和TOPEX/POSEIDON卫星高度计在相互校正阶段的观测资料,对两者在中国海和西北太平洋测得的海面风速、有效波高、后向散射截面、海平面高度等参数进行一致性分析;利用j,v模型及主要分潮的调和常数,对中国陆架浅海的JASON-1海平面高度数据进行浅海潮汐修正,使用验潮站月平均水位资料对修正结果加以印证。结果显示,2颗高度计观测的海洋环境参数具有强相关性,JASON-1具备了完成延续TOPEX/POSEIDON数据集这一使命的条件。但是,2套系统对于同一海洋环境参数的观测还是存在不能忽略的差异,对这种差异进行了分析,并给出了修正模型。所使用的浅海潮汐修正方法有效地抑制了中国陆架浅海潮波对海平面高度反演的影响,所使用浅海水域的5个验潮站月平均水位资料与JASON-1高度计经过浅海潮汐修正后的海平面高度的相关系数为0.738,标准偏差为0.096m。通过进一步融合JASON-1和TOPEX/POSEIDON在并行飞行期间的海平面高度数据并与验潮站资料比较显示,两者的相关系数提高到0.83,标准偏差为0.067m。     

An intercomparison of GEOSAT, TOPEX and ERS1 measurements of wind speed and wave height

Mean monthly values of altimeter wind speed and wave height are compared with data from NDBC buoys. As a result of these comparisons, corrections are made to the raw data products available from these satellites. Data from the GEOSAT, TOPEX and ERS1 missions corrected in this fashion are used to show that there have been no measurable changes in the global wind and wave climate during the 10 years spanned by these various missions. It is proposed that the corrected values of wind speed and wave height provide the basis for the formation of a long-term global data base which spans the periods of these multiple missions.     

Wind-Wave Characteristics and Climate Variability in the Indian Ocean Region Using Altimeter Data

The significant wave height and wind speed derived for the period 1993–2010 from altimeter data sets over the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean categorized as six zones has been analyzed. The average variation of both significant wave height and wind speed is found to be almost stable for the period of study. The study reveals that the average wind speed increases by about 6cm/sec/year during monsoon and post monsoon in the southern Indian Ocean. The distribution of wind and waves was studied in the context of seasonal variations. In addition, the average inter-annual and intra-annual variations along with the statistical parameters such as standard deviation, and root mean square wave height for the six zones are also reported in this paper.     

Inter-comparison of model-predicted wave heights with satellite altimeter measurements in the north Indian Ocean

A numerical model based on a wind-wave energy transport formulation of Toba is developed to generate hindcast wave height data for the equatorial and the north Indian Ocean, which is otherwise a data-sparse region. The intercomparison between model-predicted wave heights for three years (1987–1989) obtained utilising analysed surface wind fields' data, and model grid averaged GEOSAT Altimeter significant wave height data showed moderate match, particularly for H_S greater than 1 m.     

Entropy of sea wave height field and its annual variation in Northwest Pacific Ocean

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Satellite wave measurements for coastal engineering applications

Measurements from the GEOSAT, ERS-1 and 2 and Topex/Poseidon satellites have now accumulated to over 15 years of global ocean wave and wind data. Extraction of wave height, wind speed and wave period from the satellite altimeters and directional wave spectra from the synthetic aperture radars are reviewed along with recent validation and calibration efforts. Applications of the data to a variety of problems illustrate the potential of satellite wave measurements.     

Sea Surface Height Variability in the Indian Ocean from TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimetry and Model Simulations

Sea Surface Height (SSH) variability in the Indian Ocean during 1993-1995 is studied using TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimetry data. Strong interannual variability is seen in the surface circulation of the western Arabian Sea, especially in the Somali eddy structure. During the Southwest (SW) monsoon, a weak monsoon year is characterized by a single eddy system off Somalia, a strong or normal monsoon year by several energetic eddies. The Laccadive High (LH) and Laccadive Low (LL) systems off southwest India are observed in the altimetric SSH record. The variability of the East India Coastal Current (EICC), the western boundary current in the Bay of Bengal, is also detected. Evidence is found for the propagation of Kelvin and Rossby waves across the northern Indian Ocean; these are examined in the context of energy transfer to the western boundary currents, and associated eddies. A simple wind-driven isopycnal model having three active layers is implemented to simulate the seasonal changes of surface and subsurface circulation in the North Indian Ocean and to examine the response to different wind forcing. The wind forcing is derived from the ERS-1 scatterometer wind stress for the same period as the T/P altimeter data, enabling the model response in different (active/weak) monsoon conditions to be tested. The model output is derived in 10-day snapshots to match the time period of the T/P altimeter cycles. Complex Principal Component Analysis (CPCA) is applied to both altimetric and model SSH data. This confirms that long Rossby waves are excited by the remotely forced Kelvin waves off the southwest coast of India and contribute substantially to the variability of the seasonal circulation in the Arabian Sea.     

Sea Surface Height Variability in the Indian Ocean from TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimetry and Model Simulations

Sea Surface Height (SSH) variability in the Indian Ocean during 1993-1995 is studied using TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimetry data. Strong interannual variability is seen in the surface circulation of the western Arabian Sea, especially in the Somali eddy structure. During the Southwest (SW) monsoon, a weak monsoon year is characterized by a single eddy system off Somalia, a strong or normal monsoon year by several energetic eddies. The Laccadive High (LH) and Laccadive Low (LL) systems off southwest India are observed in the altimetric SSH record. The variability of the East India Coastal Current (EICC), the western boundary current in the Bay of Bengal, is also detected. Evidence is found for the propagation of Kelvin and Rossby waves across the northern Indian Ocean; these are examined in the context of energy transfer to the western boundary currents, and associated eddies. A simple wind-driven isopycnal model having three active layers is implemented to simulate the seasonal changes of surface and subsurface circulation in the North Indian Ocean and to examine the response to different wind forcing. The wind forcing is derived from the ERS-1 scatterometer wind stress for the same period as the T/P altimeter data, enabling the model response in different (active/weak) monsoon conditions to be tested. The model output is derived in 10-day snapshots to match the time period of the T/P altimeter cycles. Complex Principal Component Analysis (CPCA) is applied to both altimetric and model SSH data. This confirms that long Rossby waves are excited by the remotely forced Kelvin waves off the southwest coast of India and contribute substantially to the variability of the seasonal circulation in the Arabian Sea.     

Annual Variability of Sea Surface Height and Upper Layer Thickness in the Pacific Ocean

The annual variabilities of the sea surface height in the Pacific Ocean were investigated by analyzing the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite data and by solving a reduced gravity model. We discuss how adequately the simple model can capture the variabilities of the sea surface height, and what the cause of the variabilities is. Three large amplitude peaks in the satellite data are found along the 12°N longitude line. Two elongated zones with a large amplitude are also found: one extends east-west along 6°N and the other extends northwestward from South America around 25°S. These features are adequately reproduced in the numerical simulation of the reduced gravity model. The propagation of the Rossby wave is analyzed by the use of the extended Eliassen-Palm flux to investigate the mechanism of these annual variabilities. The two east peaks around 12°N can be explained in terms of the interference between the local Ekman pumping and the free wave emitted near the western coast of North America, and the most western peak is affected by the Rossby wave formed by the local wind stress. The elongated zonal area around 6°N is mainly due to the local Ekman pumping. Another area around 25°S results from the convergence of the free Rossby wave emitted from the eastern boundary and the area with the strong wind stress curl off South America. A discrepancy between the satellite data and the model results suggests that the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is relatively calm in the model but not in the satellite data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Simultaneous Ocean Wave Measurements by the Jason and Topex Satellites, with Buoy and Model Comparisons

The verification phase of the Jason-1 satellite altimeter mission presents a unique opportunity for comparing near-simultaneous, independent satellite measurements. Here we examine simultaneous significant wave height measurements by the Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon altimeters. These data are also compared with in situ measurements from deep-ocean buoys and with predicted wave heights from the Wave Watch III operational model. The rms difference between Jason and TOPEX wave heights is 28 cm, and this can be lowered by half through improved outlier editing and filtering of high-frequency noise. Noise is slightly larger in the Jason dataset, exceeding TOPEX by about 7 cm rms at frequencies above 0.05 Hz, which is the frequency at which the coherence between TOPEX and Jason measurements drops to zero. Jason wave heights are more prone to outliers, especially during periods of moderate to high backscatter. Buoy comparisons confirm previous reports that TOPEX wave heights are roughly 5% smaller than buoy measurements for waves between 2 and 5 m; Jason heights in general are 3% smaller than TOPEX. Spurious dips in the TOPEX density function for 3- and 6-m waves, a problem that has existed since the beginning of the mission, can be solved by waveform retracking.     

自然海况下波浪特性的初步研究

通过分析大量的外海浮标观测资料 ,发现波龄和无因次波高之间存在非常好的相关性 ,自然海况下的波浪场满足 3/ 5指数律 ,其波龄可达到几十 ,远远超过风浪波龄的上限 1 .4,说明波浪组成波之间波 -波共振非线性相互作用是波浪内部结构的主要调节机制 ,使波高和周期之间具有很好的相关性。     

Simultaneous Ocean Wave Measurements by the Jason and Topex Satellites,with Buoy and Model Comparisons Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

The verification phase of the Jason-1 satellite altimeter mission presents a unique opportunity for comparing near-simultaneous, independent satellite measurements. Here we examine simultaneous significant wave height measurements by the Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon altimeters. These data are also compared with in situ measurements from deep-ocean buoys and with predicted wave heights from the Wave Watch III operational model. The rms difference between Jason and TOPEX wave heights is 28 cm, and this can be lowered by half through improved outlier editing and filtering of high-frequency noise. Noise is slightly larger in the Jason dataset, exceeding TOPEX by about 7 cm rms at frequencies above 0.05 Hz, which is the frequency at which the coherence between TOPEX and Jason measurements drops to zero. Jason wave heights are more prone to outliers, especially during periods of moderate to high backscatter. Buoy comparisons confirm previous reports that TOPEX wave heights are roughly 5% smaller than buoy measurements for waves between 2 and 5 m; Jason heights in general are 3% smaller than TOPEX. Spurious dips in the TOPEX density function for 3- and 6-m waves, a problem that has existed since the beginning of the mission, can be solved by waveform retracking.     

海洋混合层深度时空分布及其与风、浪参数的相关性分析

本文应用一个经验证的全球尺度FVCOM海浪模型，模拟了2012年全球海洋海浪场的分布和演变，分析了海表面风场、海浪场与混合层深度的全球尺度分布及相关性。综合观测资料和模型结果显示，海表面10 m风速、有效波高与混合层深度的全球尺度分布随季节发生显著的变化，并且其分布态势存在明显的相似性。从相关系数的全球分布来看，海表面10 m风速在印度洋低纬度海区（纬度0°~20°）与混合层深度间有较强的相关性，相关系数大于0.5；有效波高与混合层深度间相关系数大于0.5的网格分布在北半球高纬度海区和印度洋北部。谱峰周期与混合层深度间在部分海区存在负相关关系，这些网格主要分布在低纬度海区（纬度0°~30°）。统计结果显示，有效波高、海表面10 m风速和谱峰周期与混合层深度间的平均相关系数分别为0.31、0.25和0.12。综合以上结果表明，有效波高较谱峰周期能更有效地表征波浪能对海洋上层混合的影响；相比于海表面风速，有效波高与混合层深度间存在更强的相关关系，其变化对海洋上层混合有更显著的影响。     

台风浪模拟预报中的风场比较研究

在对模拟台风浪时海浪模式常用的经验模型风场和多重嵌套中尺度气象数值模式风场的结构和时间演变特征进行对比分析的基础上,分别采用这两种风场资料,应用最新版本的第三代海浪模式SWAN对Winnie(1997)引起的台风浪进行了模拟,将模拟的有效波高与TOPEX/POSEIDON和ERS-2卫星高度计资料作了详细的对比分析。结果表明,经验模型风场对实际台风风场的刻画存在诸多缺陷,这些缺陷对于台风浪的准确模拟产生了不可忽视的影响,采用模式风场试验的模拟效果优于采用模型风场的试验。论文提出了在运用海浪模式模拟台风浪时用数值模式模拟风场替代经验模型风场的必要性。     

Characteristic analysis of wind field and sea wave field over the NW Pacific Ocean

The NW Pacific Ocean is not onIy the only transportation way between America andAsia, but also the source influencing on inIand climate and marine variability of adjacentseas in China. Based on ship observation data during l950 - l995 in the NW Pacific,with data from several hundreds to 30 thousand in every 5"x5" grid network, throughanalyzing the monthly mean directions of prevailing wind, wave and swelI, wind speed,pressure, wave height and frequencies of gaIe of 6 and 8 sca1e, high sea…