Estimation of 3-D current fields near the Rhine outflow from HF radar surface current data

HF radar systems are designed to measure spatially variable sea surface currents. A methodology was developed to complement these data with information about the current variability over the water column in a stratified shallow sea. Current profiles were estimated using a diagnostic model driven by surface current measurements from an HF radar system and by sea surface slopes derived from tide gauge data. The structure of the model has a physical basis but its parameters were derived from an analysis of in-situ current profile measurements. Application of the model to HF radar data from the SCAWVEX Rhine outflow experiment showed fair agreement with in-situ current data. As applications, estimation and tidal analysis of current fields are demonstrated.     

A Reconstruction of Observed Profiles in the Sea East of Japan Using Vertical Coupled Temperature-Salinity EOF Modes

It is important to estimate hard-to-observe parameters in the ocean interior from easy-to-observe parameters. This study therefore demostrates a reconstruction of observed temperature and salinity profiles of the sea east of Japan (30°≈40°N, 140°≈150°E). The reconstruction was done by estimating suboptimal state from several values of the observed profiles and/or sea surface dynamic height (SDH) calculated from the profiles. The estimation used a variational method with vertical coupled temperature-salinity empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes. Profiles of temperature and salinity in the subtropical region are effectively reconstructed from in situ temperature profile data, or sea surface temperature (SST) and SDH. For example, the analyzed temperature field from SST and SDH has an accuracy to within 1°C in the subtropical region. Salinity in the sea north of Kuroshio, however, is difficult to estimate because of its complex variability which is less correlated with temperature than in the subtropical region. Sea surface salinity is useful to estimate the subsurface structure. We also show the possibility that the estimation is improved by considering nonlinearity in the equation calculating SDH from temperature and salinity analysis values in order to examine the misfit between analysis and observation. Analysis using TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry data instead of SDH was also performed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of various vertical mixing parameterizations in a tropical Pacific Ocean GCM

Coupled general circulation models (GCMs) have had weak El Niño/Southern Oscillation variability that has been attributed to a diffuse thermocline in the modeled equatorial Pacific Ocean. Consequently, there have been many attempts to improve the thermocline by developing new or improved ocean vertical mixing schemes. This paper investigates the influence of gradient Richardson Number-based vertical mixing scheme profiles in a tropical Pacific Ocean GCM. It has been common for vertical mixing schemes to be assessed in tropical Pacific Ocean models that have a limited latitudinal domain bounded by zonal walls with sponge layers. However, recent work has shown that warm surface water can accumulate in these models and stop them from achieving the observed sharp equatorial thermocline. The present model employs a parameterized wall heat transport scheme that prevents warm surface water from accumulating. Thus we are able assess the influence of vertical mixing profiles in an ocean model that does not allow warm surface water to accumulate and influence the thermocline.In this paper we evaluate the equatorial performance of three different Richardson number (Ri)-based vertical mixing profiles: an integer power (IP) profile based on the observations of Peters, Gregg and Toole; a form of the Pacanowski and Philander profile modified to have low background mixing; and the Max Planck Institute profile. With the accumulation of warm surface water prevented, each of these profiles is able to achieve a sharp thermocline. When compared with observations, the IP profile achieves a better upwelling velocity distribution. We also examine the influence on equatorial performance of very high mixing coefficients at low Richardson number, and of low background mixing coefficients.     

Acoustic characteristics of seawater in the area of the coastal discharge front off the Guinean shore

Regularities in the structure and variability of the acoustic characteristics of Guinean shelf waters during the rainy season have been identified as a result of the generalization of the sound speed fields derived from temperature and salinity observations. Three areas with qualitatively different hydroacoustic properties have been revealed, namely, (i) near-shore shallow waters, where a near-surface haline acoustic channel occurs by virtue of intensive seawater freshening; (ii) a discharge front accommodating an intermediate acoustic waveguide in the temperature jump layer; and (iii) off-shore shelf areas displaying a characteristic alteration of the sound speed vertical gradient sign at thec(z) profile.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Multi-scale variability of beach profiles at Duck: A wavelet analysis

Beach profiles have been observed to change over a range of spatial and temporal scales; however techniques for quantifying this variability have not been fully established. In this paper, a wavelet technique is introduced as a method to study the multi-scale variability of beach profiles. The beach profile data comprising a 22-year time series surveyed at the US Army Corps of Civil Engineers Field Research Facility (FRF) at Duck are analysed using the adapted maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (AMODWT). The analysis successfully identifies strong local features in the variability of beach profiles in time and space separately that cannot be isolated by traditional statistical methods. The analysis of spatial wavelet variances provides a new means of investigating the depth of closure. Analysis of variances by temporal scales shows that the combined effects of several temporal scales with one or two dominant scales can be seen at particular points across profiles whilst the dominant temporal scales are different at different portions of the profiles. The method allows for the extremely nonstationary behaviour of beach profile to be analysed into separate frequency bands that can facilitate the interpretation of morphological changes in terms of physical processes.     

利用卫星遥感海面温度、高度联合反演南海北部三维温度场

利用历史观测得到的温度剖面数据,通过严格筛选和插值,建立了南海北部的气候态垂向温度剖面。随后,利用回归统计分析的方法构建了海面温度异常(SSTA)、海面高度异常(SSHA)联合扩展温度剖面的经验回归模型,并采用卫星遥感得到的SST和SSH数据扩展了南海北部的三维海洋温度场,其时间分辨率为天,空间分辨率为0.25°×0.25°。通过与观测数据的对比研究,扩展得到的温度场可以较为准确地反映南海北部温度剖面的结构特征,并且能有效地体现出一些中尺度变化过程。结果表明,本研究反演得到的三维温度扩展场是较为可靠的,它可以作为海洋数值模型的初始场,实现现场观测数据和卫星遥感数据的互补,有助于更好地分析南海北部温度场的三维结构及变化特征。     

Vertical multiple-layer structure of temperature and turbulent diffusivity in the South China Sea

We report field measurements of vertical profiles of the turbulent diffusivity and temperature at different stations in the South China Sea (SCS). Our study shows that the measured turbulent diffusivity follows a power-law distribution with a varying exponent in water layers. Similar multiple-layer scaling regimes were also observed from the temperature fluctuations. Combining turbulent diffusivity and temperature fluctuations, the vertical structure of temperature was revealed. Furthermore, we discussed the temperature profiles in each layer. A constant function of a dimensionless temperature profile was found in water layers that have identical turbulence conditions. Our results reveal the multiple-layer structure of temperature in the SCS. This study contributes to the understanding of the vertical structure of multiple layers in the SCS and provides clues for exploring the physical mechanism for maintaining the temperature structure.     

An experimental study on the parameterization of reshaped seaward profile of berm breakwaters

Berm breakwaters are rubble mound structures in which the seaward slope of the initial profile may be reshaped to become more stable under severe wave attack. The stones in the seaward slope move from the initial slope to an equilibrium profile. A 2D experimental study has been carried out in a wave flume at a hydraulic laboratory of Tarbiat Modares University to study the effects of sea state and structural parameters on the reshaped profile parameters of such breakwaters. A series of 287 tests have been performed to cover the effect of various sea state conditions such as wave height, wave period, number of waves and water depth at the toe of the structure, and structural parameters such as berm width, berm elevation above still water level and armor stone size. All the tests have been done employing irregular waves with a JONSWAP spectrum. In this paper, first the reshaped profiles are schematized, and then the key parameters of the reshaped seaward profiles such as step height, step length and depth of intersection point of initial and reshaped profile are investigated, using results of this experimental work. Eventually, formulae that include some sea state and structural parameters are derived for estimation of the reshaped profile parameters. To assess the validity of the proposed formulae, comparisons are made between the estimated parameters of reshaped profiles by these formulae and earlier formulae given by other researchers. The comparisons show that the estimation procedure foretells reshaping parameters well and with less scatter according to the present data and also other experimental results within the range of parameters tested.     

On similarity profiles predicted in the convective marine boundary layer

On the basis of the ideal of local scale similarity theory, the profile equations of wind, temperature and humidity for the eonvective marine boundary layer have been obtained. The marine boundary layer measurements were made over the western Pacific Ocean as past of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Programme during Nov. 1986-Feb. 1987. The similarity profiles predicledfor wind. temperature and humidity in the MBL are in good agreement with the observational data.     

Basis functions for shallow-water temperature profiles based on the internal-wave eigenmodes

The shallow-water temperature profile is typically parameterized using a few empirical orthogonal function(EOF)coefficients. However, when the experimental area is poorly known or highly variable, the adaptability of the EOFs will be significantly reduced. In this study, a new set of basis functions, generated by combining the internal-wave eigenmodes with the average temperature gradient, is developed for characterizing the temperature perturbations. Temperature profiles recorded by a thermisto...     

Identification and classification of vertical chlorophyll patterns in the Benguela upwelling system and Angola-Benguela front using an artificial neural network

Information on the vertical chlorophyll structure in the ocean is important for estimating integrated chlorophyll a and primary production from satellite. For this study, vertical chlorophyll profiles from the Benguela upwelling system and the Angola-Benguela front were collected in winter to identify characteristic profiles. A shifted Gaussian model was fitted to each profile to estimate four parameters that defined the shape of the curve: the background chlorophyll concentration (B ₀), the height parameter of the peak (h), the width of the peak (σ) and the depth of the chlorophyll peak (z_m ). A type of artificial neural network called a self-organizing map (SOM) was then used on these four parameters to identify characteristic profiles. The analysis identified a continuum of chlorophyll patterns, from those with large surface peaks (>10 mg m^?3) to those with smaller near-surface peaks (<2 mg m^?3). The frequency of occurrence of each chlorophyll pattern identified by the SOM showed that the most frequent pattern (～12%) had a near-surface peak and the least frequent pattern (～2%) had a large surface peak. These characteristic profile shapes were then related to pertinent environmental variables such as sea surface temperature, surface chlorophyll, mixed layer depth and euphotic depth. Partitioning the SOM output map into environmental categories showed large peaks of surface chlorophyll dominating in water with cool temperature, high surface chlorophyll concentration and shallow mixed layer and euphotic depth. By contrast, smaller peaks of subsurface chlorophyll were in water with warmer temperature, lower surface chlorophyll concentration, intermediate mixed layer and deep euphotic depth. These relationships can be used semi-quantitatively to predict profile shape under different environmental conditions. The SOM analysis highlighted the large variability in shape of vertical chlorophyll profiles in the Benguela. This suggests that an ideal typical chlorophyll profile, as used in the framework of biogeochemical provinces, may not be applicable to this dynamic upwelling system.     

The propagation of an acoustic pulse in a near-ground atmospheric waveguide

A wave theory of propagation of an acoustic pulse in a moving stratified atmospheric layer above the ground with a finite impedance of an underlying ground surface is developed. The shapes of acoustic signals in a near-ground atmospheric waveguide, which are formed due to temperature inversion and a vertical shear of the wind velocity, are calculated based on this theory. These signals are compared with those measured during the experiments where vertical profiles of the wind velocity and temperature in an atmospheric boundary layer have been continuously controlled using a sodar, a temperature profile meter, and acoustic anemometers or thermometers mounted on a 56-meter-high mast. The joint action of a near-ground acoustic waveguide, the impedance of the underlying surface, and a vertical layered structure of the boundary atmospheric layer on a signal shape far from the acoustic source are studied.     

Reanalysis of seasonal and interannual variability of Black Sea fields for 1993–2012

A retrospective analysis has been done for the hydrophysical fields of the Black Sea for 1993–2012 with the assimilation of undisturbed monthly average profiles of temperature and salinity that were obtained by using an original procedure of joint processing of satellite altimetry and rare hydrological observations. The accuracy of the reconstructed fields of temperature and salinity of the Black Sea is evaluated by comparison with the data of sounding from the hydrological stations and the Argo floats. A comparative analysis is performed for the integral characteristics of the fields of temperature, salinity, and kinetic energy with the same characteristics of the reanalysis for 1992–2012 that assimilated the average annual profiles of temperature and salinity, surface temperature and altimetry level of the sea after being adjusted with respect to climate seasonal variability. The proposed procedure of the reanalysis execution allows a more precise reconstruction of the interannual variability of temperature and salinity stratification in the main pycnocline. The correlation between the annual and seasonal variability of the eddy of the wind friction tangential stress and the average kinetic energy at the levels is revealed.     

A method of simultaneous analysis of wind and temperature profile data over the water surface by use of the method of least squares

Priestley’s 1959 discussion concerning the estimations of momentum flux and of heat flux from profile observations of wind and temperature, stating that the closeness of the curve fitting is deceptive, is first critically re-examined. Then a method is proposed to estimate vertical flux of momentum and heat over the water surface, from the combined data of of wind speed and temperature are assumed to have similar log-linear profiles, and the most probable profiles are determined by applying the method of least squares simultaneously to wind and temperature data. Consequently, the most probable values of vertical flux of momentum and heat may be estimated to satisfy as much as possible observed data of both wind and temperature simultaneously. The coefficient of the linear term of the log-linear profile, which is treated as an indeterminate coefficient in this method, may be determined from each observed data as a function of stability length. By tentatively applying the method to Rider’s 1954 data it is found that the coefficient shows a characteristic behavior with the stability length.     

Recent changes of biogenic carbonate deposition in anoxic sediments of the Black Sea: sedimentary record and climatic implication

Recent changes of carbonate deposition were traced in a Black Sea sediment core taken in the western abyssal basin. The sediments were dated from a vertical profile of excess 210Pb. The 210Pb geochronology corresponded well to the 137Cs fallout record. A 20-year cyclic variability of carbon deposition has been traced in the dated sediments and has been related inversely to the long-term changes in temperature of air over the basin, forcing the convection in the upper water column, which may bear influence upon the coccolithophorid blooms by bringing nutrients from deeper water to the surface.     

PAssive COastal TOMography: an Innovative Approach for the Remote Monitoring of Sea Temperature

Abstract. This paper describes a new Ocean Acoustic Tomography (OAT) methodology - a passive tomography - presently in an advanced development phase. This technique has been developed for long-term, extensive, remote monitoring of the seawater temperature spatial distribution, which is estimated from the received noise emitted from ships of opportunity. To test the passive tomographic processor under controlled conditions, the components of the naval noise from different kinds of vessels was analysed and realistic naval noise was simulated. The feasibility of the proposed methodology was confirmed by test-runs on semi-synthetic data; its capability to resolve temperature profiles will be better assessed with the use of real acoustic and environmental data collected during the INTIMATE00 experiment performed in October 2000 in the Atlantic Ocean off the Portuguese coast. An analysis of the space and time variability of the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) decomposition of the sound speed (SSP) in the Mediterranean Sea has been carried out to identify areas where acoustic tomography can be successfully applied. Results from simulations in the South Adriatic Sea, which was identified as a region with a high sound speed variability associated with the seasonal cycle and with the main oceanographic processes, are reported.     

Dominant spatial variability scales from observations around the Hawaiian Islands

We utilize a variety of available observations with a semivariogram technique to quantify the oceanic variability around the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Islands have a significant impact on the North Pacific circulation, and quantifying the characteristics of the variability is important for understanding the eddy energy, as well as required for statistical techniques to work with the data, such as optimal interpolation, data assimilation, etc. Both satellite sea surface height and temperature data are used to determine horizontal scales of variability, while Argo profiles, ship-borne profiles, and autonomous Seagliders provide estimates of the vertical scales. In the lee of the islands, satellite data reveal an increase in horizontal variability attributed to enhanced eddy activity that persists for over 1000 km westward; however, only within 400 km of the immediate lee the horizontal length scales are greatly reduced. Further west, length scales increase significantly indicating a change in the generation mechanism for eddy variability and where eddies merge and coalesce. The meridional length scale gradient is found to be larger than previous results and more representative of the gradient of the first baroclinic mode of the internal Rossby radius. Vertical length scales are shown to increase in the lee, with vertical temperature variability doubled from the windward side.     

西太平洋暖池时空分布特征及其与ENSO的关系

应用NCEP/NCAR SST资料和SODA海温资料,分析研究了热带太平洋海温场的变化特征,讨论了气候突变前后热带西太平洋暖池(以下简称WPWP)形态的显著变化及其差异,由此重新界定了WPWP的范围,并进一步分析了WPWP的时空变化特征。结果表明,新界定的WPWP气候平均场与前人定义的气候平均场分布特征基本相同,但也存在一定的差异。新界定的WPWP的优点在于它不仅能够客观反映出气候(海洋)突变前后西太平洋暖池的时空变化特征,而且重要的是可以避免由前人定义的WPWP与东太平洋暖池合为一体的现象发生,从而避免人为地计算WPWP面积变化带来的结果差异。新界定的WPWP平均深度可达130 m左右,呈现出西浅东深的"耳状"分布特征,在冬春季节,南北(经向)窄东西(纬向)宽,呈纬向带状分布;在夏秋季节,WP-WP明显向北扩展。平均深度最大中心位于(5°S,180°)附近。由WPWP区域不同深度的异常海温变化与Niño3指数的相关分析可知,WPWP次表层异常海温变化与Niño3指数呈显著的负相关关系,而与表层的异常海温的关系并不密切,这一结果进一步证明了西太平洋暖池对ENSO的贡献是来自次表层异常海温的东传。     

Vertical structure of the upper ocean from profiles fitted to physically consistent functional forms

A method for characterizing the upper ocean structure is developed. Each temperature (density) profile is fitted by an ideal function based on the assumption that the permanent and seasonal thermoclines can be approximated respectively by steady state and transients of turbulent-diffusive processes and that the mixed layer can advance sharply under external forcing. The ideal profile is composed of two pieces joined at the mixed layer depth (MLD). The upper part is a constant; the part below the MLD is a product of an exponential decay and a Gaussian, representing the seasonal thermocline and decaying asymptotically to a straight line that describes the permanent thermocline. The composition of an exponential decay and a Gaussian accurately fits a wide family of solutions of the diffusion equation and includes the case of a shift of the boundary. The ideal fit for each profile relies on six adjustable parameters including the MLD. As the function is non-linear and non-differentiable, a Differential Evolution optimization algorithm is proposed to make the fitting. The solution gives a good estimate of the MLD based on the topology of the profile. It also provides a measure of the gradient and the shape of each profile, which are intuitive parameters for characterizing the upper ocean structure with direct applicability in ecosystem models. The algorithm is applied to a time series of monthly conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) profiles from a hydrographical station in the southern Bay of Biscay. The construction of a local climatology of the vertical structure evolution (mixed layer development) is presented as a practical application. Other potential uses of the method are also discussed.     

The organochlorine contamination history of the Mersey estuary, UK, revealed by analysis of sediment cores from salt marshes

Sediment profiles in the Banks, Ince and Widnes Warth salt marshes in Northwest England contain a mappable record of historic pollution. For persistent organochlorine compounds this stretches back over 90 years. The PCB and HCH profiles can be successfully rationalised by dating methods, and they can be related to the dates of initial production and subsequent withdrawal from use of these chemicals as a result of restrictive environmental legislation. HCB has a more complex pollution profile as it has been manufactured in Northwest England, both deliberately as a pesticide and accidentally as a by-product of several chlorination processes, dating back to the start of the 20th century. The concentrations of degradation products of DDT are relatively constant through the sediment profile and are dominated by op'- and pp'-DDD with only minor contributions from the most toxic species, pp'-DDT. The quantities of these compounds resident in the reservoir of pollutants under these marshes have been calculated, and have fallen progressively in the last 30-50 years.