Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Flow Kinematics And Dynamics Of The Gulf Stream From Composite Imagery, Caitlin Patrice Mullen

OES Theses and Dissertations

A unique set of contemporaneous satellite-tracked drifters and five-day composite satellite images of the North Atlantic is studied in order to infer the near-surface flow kinematics and dynamics of the Gulf Stream. Using fractal and spectral analyses, two kinematic models, and a potential vorticity model, detailed comparisons are made between these data sets.

Fractal and spectral analyses show that the data set is not fractal, there is no geographic variability, and there is not a strong fractal scaling link between the drifter trajectories and composite temperature fronts as had been postulated by several investigators. These results indicate considerably more work …

Continuous Assimilation Of Geosat Altimeter Data Into A Three-Dimensional Primitive Equation Gulf Stream Model, Tal Ezer, George L. Mellor

CCPO Publications

A three-dimensional data assimilation scheme is described and tested, using the Geosat altimeter data and a high-resolution, primitive equation, numerical ocean model of the Gulf Stream region. The assimilation scheme is based on an optimal interpolation approach in which data along satellite tracks are continuously interpolated horizontally and vertically into the model grid and assimilated with the model prognostic fields. Preprocessed correlations between surface elevation anomalies and subsurface temperature and salinity anomalies are used to project surface information into the deep ocean; model and data error estimates are used to optimize the assimilation. Analysis fields derived from the Navy's Optimum …

Surface Flow Structure Of The Gulf Stream From Composite Imagery And Satellite-Tracked Drifters, C. P. Mullen, A. D. Kirwan Jr.

CCPO Publications

A unique set of coutemporaneous satellite-tracked drifters and five-day composite Advanced Very High Resolution Radionmeter (AVHRR) satellite imagery of the North Atlantic has been analyzed to examine the surface flow structure of the Gulf Stream. The study region was divided into two sections, greater than 37 degrees N and less than 37 degrees N, in order to answer the question of geographic variability. Fractal and spectral analyses methods were applied to the data. Fractal analysis of the Lagrangian trajectories showed a fractal dimension of 1.21 +/- 0.02 with a scaling range of 83 - 343 km. The fractal dimension of …