Centrifugal forces estimated from trajectories of drifting buoys in winding paths of the Kuroshio

Radii and angular velocities in the motions of drifting buoys deployed in the Kuroshio are estimated by fitting circles to the trajectories of two drifting buoys, one with a drogue at 300 m depth and the other at 800 m depth. The buoys were deployed in the Kuroshio where it was flowing counter-clockwise around the large cold water mass south of Honshu. The same technique was applied to two drifting buoys with drogues at 300 m depth placed in the Kuroshio where it flowed clockwise around Oshima Island in Sagami Bay. The centrifugal forces were 7% and 6% as large as the Coriolis forces in the Kuroshio around the cold water mass, and they were –56% and –42% as large as the Coriolis forces in the current around the Oshima Island. The temperature gradient observed in the Oshima-West Channel suggested that the pressure gradient there was smaller due to the centrifugal force acting against the Coriolis force than the pressure gradient to be balanced with the Coriolis force.     

Lagrangian validation of numerical drifter trajectories using drifting buoys: Application to the Agulhas system

The skill of numerical Lagrangian drifter trajectories in three numerical models is assessed by comparing these numerically obtained paths to the trajectories of drifting buoys in the real ocean. The skill assessment is performed using the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistical test. To demonstrate the assessment procedure, it is applied to three different models of the Agulhas region. The test can either be performed using crossing positions of one-dimensional sections in order to test model performance in specific locations, or using the total two-dimensional data set of trajectories. The test yields four quantities: a binary decision of model skill, a confidence level which can be used as a measure of goodness-of-fit of the model, a test statistic which can be used to determine the sensitivity of the confidence level, and cumulative distribution functions that aid in the qualitative analysis. The ordering of models by their confidence levels is the same as the ordering based on the qualitative analysis, which suggests that the method is suited for model validation. Only one of the three models, a 1/10° two-way nested regional ocean model, might have skill in the Agulhas region. The other two models, a 1/2° global model and a 1/8° assimilative model, might have skill only on some sections in the region.     

Analysis of mesoscale phenomena in the Algerian basin observed with drifting buoys and infrared images

During the autumn–winter of 1996–1997, drifting buoy trajectories and infrared satellite images provided new information on the characteristics of several mesoscale phenomena generated by the Algerian Current (AC) in the western Mediterranean Sea. A mesoscale event, as defined by previous studies, consists of a meander of the current associated with a surface anticyclonic eddy inside its crest, a transitory surface cyclonic eddy (E_c) upstream from the crest, and a deep anticyclonic eddy just below the meander. Most events propagate eastward along the coast at a few km per day until they are forced, mainly by the topography at the entrance to the channel of Sardinia, to detach from the coast and propagate seaward. They thus become open-sea anticyclonic eddies and generally complete an anticlockwise circuit in the Algerian basin. Surface buoys were launched upstream from an event and across it near 1°E. They made it possible to characterise the anticyclonic and cyclonic surface eddy features, and for the first time clearly showed the meander, which is in general not well depicted with images. It has thus been definitely demonstrated that most of the AC (speeds of several tens of cm/s) crosses the relatively slowly propagating events. As usual, the event we sampled reached a mature stage characterised by a vanishing of the E_c, and increased up to ∼100 km. Its arrest and decrease before it reached the channel of Sardinia, which is not so usual, was contemporaneous to the reappearance of the E_c and could be related to the growing of another coastal eddy upstream. At the entrance to the channel of Sardinia (near 7–8°E), the trajectories and images also documented another event which was larger (up to ∼120 km) and in the phase of detachment. Since the buoys drifted alternately to the west and to the east between this event and the coast, it is clear that an event can detach only temporarily and allow part of the AC to flow eastward directly. As indicated by infrared images, the definitive detachment occurred after all the buoys escaped from the event. The whole in situ and satellite data set is fully consistent with all the previous observations of the AC mesoscale variability, and quantitatively supports the proposed hypotheses for the event structure. It is consistent with laboratory experiments and some results of numerical models of coastal instability processes.     

Enhanced estimation of sonobuoy trajectories by velocity reconstruction with near-surface drifters

An investigation to improve trajectory prediction using Lagrangian data is presented. The velocity field of a data assimilating model, EAS-16, is corrected using drifter observations taken during an experiment off Taiwan. The results are tested using another independent Lagrangian data set provided by sonobuoys launched in the same area. The latter have instrument chains that extend well into the water column. Consequently the corrected model velocities were projected into the water column in order to calculate sonobuoy trajectories. The drifter and sonobuoy trajectories both show two distinct regimes in the considered area of approximately 1/2° square. One regime is dominated by shelf dynamics, the other by meandering of the Kuroshio, with a sharp boundary dividing the two. These two regimes are not reproduced by the trajectories of the EAS-16 model. When the drifter data are blended with the model velocities, synthetic sonobuoy trajectories track the observed ones much better, and the two regimes are clearly depicted. Two different methods for the velocity reconstruction are tested. One is based on a variational approach and the other on a normal mode decomposition. Both methods show qualitatively similar improvements in the prediction of sonobuoys trajectories, with a quantitative improvement in the total rms error of approximately 50% and 25%, respectively.     

Analysis of the surface circulation in the Black Sea performed by using drifting buoys with satellite communications

We present the results of drift experiments with 14LOBAN-TM buoys carried out for the first time in the Black Sea in 1987–1997. We analyze the specific features of application of buoys in summer and winter. We present the main results of investigation of the Main Black Sea Current by drift methods and joint processing of drift contact and remote infrared observations. We demonstrate the possibility of enhancement of the quality of observations due to the application of SVPB drifters of new generation equipped with underwater sails and meters of atmospheric pressure in the near-surface atmospheric layer. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Modelling surface drifting of buoys during a rapidly-moving weather front in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

The Gulf of Finland is an elongated estuary located in the north-eastern extremity of the Baltic Sea. This semi-enclosed sea-area is subject to heavy sea traffic, and is one of the main risk areas for oil accidents in the Baltic. The continuous development and validation of operational particle drift and oil-spill forecasting systems is thus seen to be essential for this sea-area.Here, the results of a three-day drift experiment in May 2003 are discussed. The field studies were performed using GPS-positioned surface floating buoys. The aim of this paper is to evaluate how well models can reproduce the drift of these buoys. Model simulations, both in forecast and hindcast modes, were carried out by three different 3D hydrodynamic models, the results of which are evaluated by comparing the calculated drifts with observations. These models were forced by HIRLAM (High Resolution Limited Area Model) and ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) meteorological forecast fields.The simulated drift of the buoys showed a good agreement with observations even when, during the study period, a rapidly-changing wind situation was observed to affect the investigation area; in this situation the winds turned about 100 degrees in half an hour. In such a case it is a very complicated task to forecast the drifters' routes: there is a need to regularly update the meteorological forcing fields and to use these regularly-updated fields throughout the simulations. It is furthermore recommended that forecasts should be made using several circulation models and several meteorological forecasts, in order to get an overview of the accuracy of the forecasted drifts and related differences in between the forecasts.     

Acoustic tracking of a freely drifting sonobuoy field: experimental results

This paper describes a regularized acoustic inversion algorithm for tracking individual elements of a freely drifting sonobuoy field using measured acoustic arrival times from a series of impulsive sources. The acoustic experiment involved 11 sonobuoys distributed over an 8/spl times/6-km field, with a total of six sources deployed over 72 min. The inversion solves for an independent track for each sonobuoy (parameterized by the sonobuoy positions at the time of each source transmission), as well as for the source positions and transmission instants. Although this is a strongly under-determined problem, meaningful solutions are obtained by incorporating a priori information consisting of prior estimates (with uncertainties) for the source positions and initial sonobuoy positions and a physical model for sonobuoy motion along preferentially smooth tracks. The inversion results indicate that the sonobuoys move approximately 260-700 m during the source-deployment period. Closely spaced sonobuoys move along similar tracks; however, there is considerable variability in track directions over the entire field. Positioning uncertainties in horizontal coordinates are estimated using a Monte Carlo appraisal procedure to be approximately 100 m in an absolute sense and 65 m in a relative sense. A sensitivity study indicates that the uncertainties of the a priori position estimates are the limiting factor for track accuracy, rather than data uncertainties or source configuration.     

基于MEMS加速度计空投浮标的波浪测量方法试验研究

针对基于MEMS加速度传感器的空投波浪浮标存在采样频率与测波精度低的问题,根据频域衰减积分算法,提出一种相应的波浪测量算法,为了验证该算法测波的准确性,开展了多功能水槽试验研究。该算法旨在将MEMS加速度传感器输出的加速度与姿态角转化为浮标运动的波形,首先将加速度与姿态角信号进行竖向处理获得竖直方向的加速度,再利用离散傅里叶变换将竖向加速度转化为频域内的加速度复数序列,然后引入控制函数减弱低频噪声,经过频域积分、离散傅里叶逆变换、时域积分获得竖直方向的位移,最后通过后处理得到最终的波形。多功能水槽试验采取10中不同波高和周期的工况,对比空投波浪测量浮标与波高仪的测量结果,试验结果表明,浮标的测量误差在10%以内,达到测波标准。     

漂航状态矢量修正海流测量数据方法研究

针对舰船在漂航状态(停航不抛锚)时,海流计实测数据不准问题,基于天气海况条件良好的试验海区,分析海流计数据误差原因,提出流速矢量修正海流计实测数据的方法,将修正后结果与《T-D值表》潮流推算值对比发现:13:20时刻的流向误差为0.6％,流速误差为3％;14:20时刻流向误差为1.6％,流速误差为0％,修正效果理想,误...     

A method for the quantitative estimation of bacteria from mangrove sediments

A simple and rapid method for the quantitative extraction of bacteria from high silt/clay-content muds associated with mangrove swamps is described. Mud samples are homogenized in filtered sea water and the supernatant is diluted and stained with Acridine Organge. The stained material is trapped on a 0·45 μm membrane filter and bacteria are counted under a fluorescence microscope. Samples may be pre-fixed in 5% formalin if they cannot be examined immediately.     

钢筋混凝土梁结构断裂损伤诊断方法

提出一种基于BP神经网络的结构破损诊断方法,该方法以结构破损前后柔度的变化作为破损诊断网络输入,为了解决由于系统响应样本数据空间分布不均匀对网络收敛速度及网络诊断影响问题,对网络训练样本采用广义空间格点进行了交换,模拟算例及应用实例均表明,本文方法能准确诊断结构破损位置与破坏程度,是一种有效的结构破损诊断方法.     

A Bayesian method for the estimation of return values of wave heights

Bayesian statistics offer a novel means of estimating return values of wave heights and hence of establishing design criteria for offshore structures. The Bayesian method has significant advantages over the classical method since it enables all types of uncertainty (physical, parameter, distribution) associated with the design wave prediction to be handled in a consistent manner in the same analysis.The basic principles of the Bayesian method for drawing inferences are outlined step-by-step. It is shown how Bayesian estimators of return values for wave heights are established by taking an expectation over all parameters and contending distributions. When the Bayesian procedure is applied to large data sets, such as wave data sets, computational difficulties could be encountered, making a “remedial” procedure necessary. However, the Bayesian procedure has been used successfully with wave data sets from the northern North Sea. Furthermore, the associated remedial procedure is such that the program can be made suitable for many existing computers, e.g. desk computers.     

基于卫星漂流浮标轨迹的东海边界交换估算方法研究

东海陆架斜坡和台湾海峡是我国东部近海从大洋和南海获取热量、盐量和营养盐的两个主要边界。本文建立了一个不规则分布漂流浮标轨迹的网格化处理方法和跨边界交换估算方法。该方法得到的漂流浮标轨迹累计次数再现了黑潮主轴位置并表明主轴两侧浮标存在显著的跨陆坡交换现象。浮标轨迹的统计结果揭示了东海陆坡上水体交换具有显著的区域性,即陆坡上存在7个主要交换区,3个交换区以入流为主,另4个交换区以出流为主。研究也表明跨东海陆坡交换具有明显的季节变化特征,秋季交换最剧烈且入流最显著,春季最弱。穿越台湾海峡的交换主要以北向入流为主,海峡东侧的交换更加明显,一年之中夏季最显著,春、冬季最弱。     

Accuracy characteristics of the electronics of waverider buoys used in the ARSLOE

During the Atlantic Remote Sensing Land Ocean Experiment (ARSLOE), October-November, 1980, a large number of meteorological and oceanographic instruments, especially wave-measurement instruments, were deployed in the ocean near the Army Corps of Engineers Pier, Duck, NC. About nine Waverider buoys were deployed in an approximately rectangular pattern, about 30 km wide by 40 km seaward. The Waveriders were an accepted reference for study of other wave-measurement instrument systems. Almost all of the Waverider buoys were calibrated on the rotating-arm facility of the NOAA, Engineering Support Office. Pre- and post-deployment calibrations formed the basis for tables and equations for correction of the Waverider measurements. The calibrations discussed here established that the Waveriders were measuring lower than specification, averaging about 5 percent low (10 percent for variance spectra coefficients.) Corrections for effects of fluctuations in water temperature on Waverider sensitivity were required and are provided. The manufacturer's modification to prevent future drift in sensitivity is also described.     

3套不同的SST再分析数据与中国近海浮标观测的对比研究

基于自然资源部浮标数据,通过分析均值差、均方根误差、相关系数和标准差偏差4个统计量,检验了2018年7月1日至8月6日全时段及该时段内3个台风(1808号台风"玛利亚"、1810号台风"安比"、1812号台风"云雀")过境期间,3套海表面温度(Sea Surface Temperature,SST)再分析资料(OISST、OSTIA SST、RTG SST)在中国近海区域的可靠性。对比结果表明,在全时段内,3套SST再分析资料都能在一定程度上反映中国近海SST的基本状况,其中OSTIA SST资料同浮标实测SST数据的均值差为0.12℃、相关系数为0.94,均优于OISST资料(均值差为–0.85℃、相关系数为0.90)和RTG SST资料(均值差为–0.17℃、相关系数为0.86)。通过对比单个浮标数据发现,相较约80%的MF浮标实测SST数据,OSTIA SST资料都显著优于RTG SST资料和OISST资料,具有较高的可信度。在台风过境期间,较之RTG SST资料和OISST资料,OSTIA SST资料同大部分浮标实测数据的均值差绝对值及均方根误差更小、相关系数更大,表明在高海况...     

一种普适性的加权热带气旋风场重构方法

台风浪模拟是海洋和海岸工程中开展重现期波浪推算的关键环节。本文在系统分析历史热带气旋近中心最大风速、大风风圈以及CCMP风场特征的基础上,提出了一种热带气旋影响范围计算方案,改进了加权热带气旋风场重构方法。以该方法重构的热带气旋风场为驱动,采用WAVEWATCH Ⅲ模型模拟了南海28次台风浪过程,并用南海北部88个站次的风、浪观测资料对重构后的风场及模拟浪高进行检验。检验结果显示:风速(台风浪高)的重构值(模拟值)与观测值吻合良好,改进后的加权热带气旋风场重构方法有较强的普适性。     

A note on the theoretical comparison of wave staffs and wave rider buoys in steep gravity waves

The sea surface displacements measured by a wave staff, fixed in horizontal position, and a wave rider buoy, which moves with the water particles, are compared. Second-order theory shows that, to this approximation, the second harmonic in the surface displacement is not measured by the wave rider. Here a simple approximation to maximum amplitude gravity waves is considered; then a freely floating wave rider gives an approximately sinusoidal record at a lower frequency than the wave, while a tethered wave rider gives results depending on the mooring system. The horizontal motion of a tethered buoy still affects the measurements, particularly of the second and higher harmonics.     

A simplified hindcast method for the estimation of extreme storm surge events in semi-enclosed basins

Human presence, coastal erosion, and tourism activities are increasing the attention to coastal flooding risk. To perform risk assessments, long time series of observed or hindcast wave parameters and tide levels are then necessary. In some cases, only a few years of observation are available, so that observed extreme data are not always representative and reliable. A hindcast system aimed to reconstruct long time series of total tide levels may be of great help to perform robust extreme events analysis and then to protect human life, activities as well as to counteract coastal erosion by means of risk assessments. This work aims to propose a simplified method to hindcast storm surge levels time series in semi-enclosed basins with low computational costs. The method is an extension of a previous work of some of the authors and consists of a mixed approach in which the estimation of storm surge obtained by using the theory of linear dynamic system is corrected by using a statistical method. Both steps are characterized by low computational costs. Nevertheless, the results may be considered reliable enough also in view of the simplicity of the approach. The proposed method has been applied to the Manfredonia case study, a small village located in the Southern Adriatic Italian coast and often prone to coastal flooding events. The comparison of extreme events estimated on the basis of hindcast levels time series is satisfactorily similar to those estimated on the basis of observed tide series.     

一种提高深远海全深度声速剖面重构精度的方法

开展多波束水深测量应同步进行声速剖面探测.因海上作业条件恶劣、作业时间受限及设备性能局限等影响,在深远海海域常获取不到全深度的实测声速剖面.尽管利用温盐场模型可将声速剖面直接延拓至实地水深的最大深度,但这种气候态平均声速剖面与实际的声速剖面间存在不可控的系统性偏差,会给声速改正及水深测量成果带来质量隐患.给出了一种提高...     

半潜平台浮子式系泊系统参数优化研究

通过在系泊缆中设置浮子可以改善系泊系统性能,降低平台运动响应。建立浮子式系泊系统的数值计算模型,验证浮子式系泊系统数值计算方法,详细分析浮子设计参数(设置位置和净浮力大小)变化对系泊缆张力特性与平台运动的影响规律,并根据得到的规律选择了优化的浮子系泊系统方案。最后对优化方案进行评估,表明优化方案可以显著降低系泊中的平台水平运动,尤其是低频运动,同时系泊缆张力变化不大,仍满足安全要求。研究结果可为今后浮子式系泊系统设计提供参考。