Determining vertical water velocities from Seaglider
Determining vertical water velocities from Seaglider
Vertical velocities in the world's oceans are typically small, less than 1 cm/s, posing a significant challenge to observation techniques. Seaglider, an autonomous profiling instrument, can be used to estimate vertical water velocity in the ocean to about half a centimeter per second. Using a Seaglider flight model and pressure observations, vertical water velocities are estimated along glider trajectories in the Labrador Sea before, during and after deep convection. Results indicate that vertical velocities in the stratified ocean agree with theoretical WKB-scaling of w, and in the turbulent mixed layer, scale with buoyancy and wind forcing. We estimate that accuracy is within 0.6 cm/s. Due to uncertainties in the flight model, velocities are poor near the surface and deep apogees, and during extended roll maneuvers. Some of this may be improved by using a dynamic flight model permitting acceleration, and by better constraining flight parameters through pilot choices during the mission.
vertical motion, ocean dynamics, profilers, trajectories
1641-1656
Frajka-Williams, E.
da86044e-0f68-4cc9-8f60-7fdbc4dc19cb
Eriksen, C.C.
710e855c-c96f-486b-b9db-f52bfb01364f
Rhines, P.B.
adf21f61-5218-4bdc-a69c-91c90ad7c1cf
Harcourt, R.R.
20a126c6-817d-4a51-af7d-6e2fea28545b
December 2011
Frajka-Williams, E.
da86044e-0f68-4cc9-8f60-7fdbc4dc19cb
Eriksen, C.C.
710e855c-c96f-486b-b9db-f52bfb01364f
Rhines, P.B.
adf21f61-5218-4bdc-a69c-91c90ad7c1cf
Harcourt, R.R.
20a126c6-817d-4a51-af7d-6e2fea28545b
Frajka-Williams, E., Eriksen, C.C., Rhines, P.B. and Harcourt, R.R.
(2011)
Determining vertical water velocities from Seaglider.
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 28 (12), .
(doi:10.1175/2011JTECHO830.1).
Abstract
Vertical velocities in the world's oceans are typically small, less than 1 cm/s, posing a significant challenge to observation techniques. Seaglider, an autonomous profiling instrument, can be used to estimate vertical water velocity in the ocean to about half a centimeter per second. Using a Seaglider flight model and pressure observations, vertical water velocities are estimated along glider trajectories in the Labrador Sea before, during and after deep convection. Results indicate that vertical velocities in the stratified ocean agree with theoretical WKB-scaling of w, and in the turbulent mixed layer, scale with buoyancy and wind forcing. We estimate that accuracy is within 0.6 cm/s. Due to uncertainties in the flight model, velocities are poor near the surface and deep apogees, and during extended roll maneuvers. Some of this may be improved by using a dynamic flight model permitting acceleration, and by better constraining flight parameters through pilot choices during the mission.
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2011_jtech_frajkawilliams_etal_determining_vertical_water_velocities_Seaglider.pdf
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Published date: December 2011
Keywords:
vertical motion, ocean dynamics, profilers, trajectories
Organisations:
Marine Physics and Ocean Climate
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 206147
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/206147
ISSN: 0739-0572
PURE UUID: c502d52b-8107-49f1-aa5b-51e1b9a8d73f
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Date deposited: 14 Dec 2011 17:08
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:35
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Contributors
Author:
E. Frajka-Williams
Author:
C.C. Eriksen
Author:
P.B. Rhines
Author:
R.R. Harcourt
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