Signal and noise in tropical Pacific sea level height analyses
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Signal and noise in tropical Pacific sea level height analyses
Alternative title
Published Date
2002-12
Publisher
Type
Abstract
(Related to IMA workshop "Data Assimilation in the Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences," April 29th-May 3rd, 2002) Monthly interannual anomalies of tropical Pacific sea level height from Topex/Poseidon altimetry are compared with simulation and assimilation products from a variety of models, ranging from a simple linear long wave approximation to ocean general circulation models. Major spatial similarities in the error patterns are identified. These include zonally elongated maxima in the northwest and southwest tropical Pacific Ocean, a narrow band of high values near 10°N which is slightly inclined towards the equator from the Central American coast, and low values on the equator and in the southeastern tropical Pacific. These features are also present in the pattern of small-scale variability of sea level height. Spatial and temporal components of this small-scale variability are analyzed for predominant variability types. Monte Carlo experiments identify the areas where high small-scale sea level height variability is wind-driven, caused by a similar pattern of variability in the wind stress. Model products systematically underestimate signal variance in such areas. Variability in other areas is due to the instability of ocean currents. The major component of uncertainty in the gridded satellite altimeter analyses is due to sampling error, for which estimates are developed and verified.
Keywords
Description
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Other identifiers
Suggested citation
Kaplan, A.; Cane, M.A.; Chen, D.; Witter, D.L.; Cheney, R.E.. (2002). Signal and noise in tropical Pacific sea level height analyses. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/3857.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.