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Improved Estimates of Temporally Coherent Internal Tides and Energy Fluxes from Satellite AltimetrySatellite altimetry has opened a surprising new avenue to observing internal tides in the open ocean. The tidal surface signatures are very small, a few cm at most, but in many areas they are robust, owing to averaging over many years. By employing a simplified two dimensional wave fitting to the surface elevations in combination with climatological hydrography to define the relation between the surface height and the current and pressure at depth, we may obtain rough estimates of internal tide energy fluxes. Initial results near Hawaii with Topex/Poseidon (T/P) data show good agreement with detailed 3D (three dimensional) numerical models, but the altimeter picture is somewhat blurred owing to the widely spaced T/P tracks. The resolution may be enhanced somewhat by using data from the ERS-1 (ESA (European Space Agency) Remote Sensing) and ERS-2 satellite altimeters. The ERS satellite tracks are much more closely spaced (0.72 deg longitude vs. 2.83 deg for T/P), but the tidal estimates are less accurate than those for T/P. All altimeter estimates are also severely affected by noise in regions of high mesoscale variability, and we have obtained some success in reducing this contamination by employing a prior correction for mesoscale variability based on ten day detailed sea surface height maps developed by Le Traon and colleagues. These improvements allow us to more clearly define the internal tide surface field and the corresponding energy fluxes. Results from throughout the global ocean will be presented.
Document ID
20020073401
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ray, Richard D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Chao, Benjamin F.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Oceanography
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2002 Ocean Sciences Meeting of the American Geophysical Union
Location: Honolulu, HI
Country: United States
Start Date: February 11, 2002
End Date: February 15, 2002
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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