Robert Stockwell (PI)
Northwest Research Associates Inc.
stockwell@cora.nwra.com

Analysis of Inertial Range Oscillations in Global Ocean Surface Winds  Using Time-Localized Rotational Spectral Analyses of SeaWinds Data From QuikSCAT and ADEOS-II

We propose to employ data from the scatterometers onboard  the QuikSCAT and ADEOS-II satellites to perform a novel  analysis of inertial range oscillations observed in a global  data set of ocean surface winds.  A ubiquitous feature of upper ocean currents are  oscillations near the local inertial frequency with an  anticyclonic (i.e. clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere)  sense of rotation. There is strong evidence from both  observations and modeling efforts that these oscillations in  the ocean can be forced by the surface wind field. Inertial  oscillations can play a major role in upper ocean dynamics.  Deeper inertial motions are developed at the expense of the  mixed-layer by vertical energy propagation, as indicated by  upward propagating phase fronts. Inertially rotating surface  wind forcing in concert with ocean inertial currents have  been observed to produce dramatic resonant responses in the  upper ocean, especially in temperature at the base of the  mixed layer.  A better representation of this process can  enable better ocean circulation models which can improve  ocean heat transport in climate models.  To date, no global study of inertial range variations in  ocean surface winds has been possible.  With the launch of  ADEOS-II carrying a second SeaWinds scatterometer, in  combination with SeaWinds on QSCAT, the sampling interval is  adequate to investigate inertial range oscillations in the  ocean surface winds.  Analysis of this important physical  processes is made possible by this new dataset of combined  satellite observations (from April to October 2003). This  study will be the first to address, on a global scale, the  important inertial oscillation distribution in ocean surface  winds.

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