Along or across front ocean survey strategy? The estimation of quasi- geostrophic vertical velocities and temperature fluxes
Abstract. In a companion paper we have shown that at typical mesoscale dynamics, the unusual along front sampling strategy is more accurate than the usual across front sampling strategy on hydrographic and bio-chemical properties when the front is sufficiently developed. The cruise design based on t...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.3452 http://modb.oce.ulg.ac.be/backup/mare/grlrixen3.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract. In a companion paper we have shown that at typical mesoscale dynamics, the unusual along front sampling strategy is more accurate than the usual across front sampling strategy on hydrographic and bio-chemical properties when the front is sufficiently developed. The cruise design based on the optimal reconstruction of the density fields for example does however not imply that derived variables like quasi-geostrophic (QG) vertical velocities and temperature fluxes also exhibit minimal associated errors. Here we present results of optimized sampling strategies for diagnostic QG vertical velocities and temperature fluxes derived from the omega equation. Results are illustrated in the same framework, for the Iceland-Faroes oceanic frontal area and for a control model and reveal that at these spatio-temporal scales, the unusual along front sampling strategy may also provide better estimations of vertical velocities and temperature fluxes compared to the classic across front sampling strategy, especially when the front is sufficiently developed. |
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