Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics
The probability density functions (PDFs) of sea level and geostrophic relative vorticity are examined using satellite altimeter data. It is shown that departures from a Gaussian distribution can generally be represented by two functions, and that the spatial distribution of these two functions is cl...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 |
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:96waa-h0f52 2024-06-23T07:56:56+00:00 Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics Hughes, Chris W. Thompson, Andrew F. Wilson, Chris 2010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 unknown Elsevier https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:96waa-h0f52 eprintid:36944 resolverid:CaltechAUTHORS:20130215-093553707 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Other Ocean Modelling, 32(1-2), 44-57, (2010) Skewness Kurtosis Sea level Vorticity Jet Meander Mixing info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2010 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 2024-06-12T03:45:52Z The probability density functions (PDFs) of sea level and geostrophic relative vorticity are examined using satellite altimeter data. It is shown that departures from a Gaussian distribution can generally be represented by two functions, and that the spatial distribution of these two functions is closely linked to the skewness and kurtosis of the PDF. The patterns indicate that strong jets tend to be identified by a zero contour in skewness coinciding with a low value of kurtosis. A simple model of the statistics of a meandering frontal region is presented which reproduces these features. Comparisons with mean currents and sea surface temperature gradients confirm the identification of these features as jets, and confirm the existence of several Southern Ocean jets unresolved by drifter data. Diagnostics from a range of idealized eddying model simulations show that there is a strong, simple relationship between kurtosis of potential vorticity and effective diffusivity. This suggests that kurtosis may provide a simple method of mapping mixing barriers in the ocean. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Received 29 June 2009; Received in revised form 12 October 2009; Accepted 23 October 2009; Available online 29 October 2009. Thanks to Kevin Horsburgh for help with some basic statistical definitions. The altimeter products were produced by SSALTO/ DUACS and distributed by AVISO with support from CNES. Rio05 was produced by CLS Space Oceanography Division and distributed by AVISO, with support from CNES (http://www.aviso.oceanobs. com/). This paper is a contribution to the NERC-funded Oceans 2025 research programme. Article in Journal/Newspaper Southern Ocean Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Southern Ocean Ocean Modelling 32 1-2 44 57 |
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Open Polar |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
op_collection_id |
ftcaltechauth |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Skewness Kurtosis Sea level Vorticity Jet Meander Mixing |
spellingShingle |
Skewness Kurtosis Sea level Vorticity Jet Meander Mixing Hughes, Chris W. Thompson, Andrew F. Wilson, Chris Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
topic_facet |
Skewness Kurtosis Sea level Vorticity Jet Meander Mixing |
description |
The probability density functions (PDFs) of sea level and geostrophic relative vorticity are examined using satellite altimeter data. It is shown that departures from a Gaussian distribution can generally be represented by two functions, and that the spatial distribution of these two functions is closely linked to the skewness and kurtosis of the PDF. The patterns indicate that strong jets tend to be identified by a zero contour in skewness coinciding with a low value of kurtosis. A simple model of the statistics of a meandering frontal region is presented which reproduces these features. Comparisons with mean currents and sea surface temperature gradients confirm the identification of these features as jets, and confirm the existence of several Southern Ocean jets unresolved by drifter data. Diagnostics from a range of idealized eddying model simulations show that there is a strong, simple relationship between kurtosis of potential vorticity and effective diffusivity. This suggests that kurtosis may provide a simple method of mapping mixing barriers in the ocean. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Received 29 June 2009; Received in revised form 12 October 2009; Accepted 23 October 2009; Available online 29 October 2009. Thanks to Kevin Horsburgh for help with some basic statistical definitions. The altimeter products were produced by SSALTO/ DUACS and distributed by AVISO with support from CNES. Rio05 was produced by CLS Space Oceanography Division and distributed by AVISO, with support from CNES (http://www.aviso.oceanobs. com/). This paper is a contribution to the NERC-funded Oceans 2025 research programme. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hughes, Chris W. Thompson, Andrew F. Wilson, Chris |
author_facet |
Hughes, Chris W. Thompson, Andrew F. Wilson, Chris |
author_sort |
Hughes, Chris W. |
title |
Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
title_short |
Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
title_full |
Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
title_fullStr |
Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
title_sort |
identification of jets and mixing barriers from sea level and vorticity measurements using simple statistics |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 |
geographic |
Southern Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Southern Ocean |
genre |
Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Ocean Modelling, 32(1-2), 44-57, (2010) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:96waa-h0f52 eprintid:36944 resolverid:CaltechAUTHORS:20130215-093553707 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.10.004 |
container_title |
Ocean Modelling |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
1-2 |
container_start_page |
44 |
op_container_end_page |
57 |
_version_ |
1802650340256907264 |