Island Barrier Effects on Sea State and Atmospheric Moisture as Detected by a Numerical Wave Model and Sensors of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

• Main Authors: Fett ,Robert W., Rabe,Kevin
• Other Authors: ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION RESEARCH FACILITY (NAVY) MONTEREY CALIF
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Unmanned Spacecraft; *METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES; *SEA STATES; *ISLANDS; OCEAN WAVES; DETECTION; REFLECTION; MOISTURE CONTENT; BARRIERS; WIND VELOCITY; REFRACTION; RADIOMETERS; AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS; OCEAN MODELS; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; HEIGHT; GLINT; ATMOSPHERES; NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN; EDDY CURRENTS; SUNLIGHT; Bow wave effect; Swells(Marine); DMSP(Defense meteorological satellite program); Defense meteorological satellite program; Pacific; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA020304; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA020304

Island barrier effects on sea state and atmospheric moisture have been studied through use of a numerical wave model and examination of data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). It is found that calm areas do not extend an appreciable distance downstream. However, swell refraction effects cause a reduction in swell height, a change in swell period, and a reorientation of swell direction, long distances to the island's lee, which may account for the satellite-observed reflective patterns noted in sunglint situations over those areas. 'Bow-wave' effects appear to be similarly observed due to sunglint from reoriented swell patterns. In conditions of a strong low-level inversion, DMSP data, being sensitive to water vapor absorption, reveal dry plumes extending downwind from islands. These dry plumes are apparently caused by the island's drying effect on atmospheric flow as it passes over and is influenced by topographical features of the island barrier. (Author)