Global characteristics of ocean variability estimated from regional TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter measurements

Journal of Physical Oceanography

Volumn 27, Issue 8, 1997, Pages 1743-1769

  Stammer, Detlef ^a  

^a MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EDDIES; SATELLITE ALTIMETRY; TOPEX/POSEIDON; VARIABILITY; WORLD OCEAN;

EID: 0031415107     PISSN: 00223670     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1175/1520-0485(1997)027<1743:GCOOVE>2.0.CO;2     Document Type: Article

References (81)

1. Beckmann, A., C. W. Boning, B. Brügge, and D. Stammer, 1994: On the generation and role of eddy variability in the central North Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 99 (C10), 20 381-20 391.
2. Boning, C. W., and G. Budich, 1992: Eddy dynamics in a primitive equation model: Sensitivity to horizontal resolution and friction. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 22, 361-381.
3. Bretherton, E, R. Davis, and C. Fandry, 1976: A technique for objective analysis and design of oceanographic experiments applied to MODE_73. Deep-Sea Res., 23, 559-582.
4. Brügge, B., 1995: Near surface mean circulation and eddy kinetic energy in the central North Atlantic from drifter data. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 20 543-20 554.
5. Busalacchi, A. J., M. J. McPhaden, and J. Picaut, 1994: Variability in equatorial Pacific sea surface topography during the verification phase of the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 725-24 738.
6. Chao, Y., and L.-L. Fu, 1995: A comparison between the TOPEX/POSEIDON data and a global ocean general circulation model during 1992-1993. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 24 965-24 976.
7. Charney, J. G., 1971: Geostrophic turbulence. J. Atmos. Sci., 28, 1087-1095.
8. Danztler, H. L., Jr., 1977: Potential energy maxima in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 7, 512-519.
9. Didden, N., and F. Schott, 1993: Eddies in the North Brazil Current retroflection region observed by GEOSAT altimetry. J. Geophys. Res., 98, 20 121-20 131.
10. Emery, W. J., W. G. Lee, and L. Maagard, 1984: Geographic and seasonal distribution of Brunt-Väisälä frequency and Rossby radii in the North Pacific and North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 14, 294-381.
11. Frankignoul, C., and P. Müller. 1979: Quasi-geostrophic response of an infinite beta-plane ocean to stochastic forcing by the atmosphere. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 9, 104-127.
12. Freeland, H. J., and J. Gould. 1976: Objective analysis of mesoscale ocean circulation feature. Deep-Sea Res., 23, 915-923.
13. Fu, L.-L., 1983: On the wave number spectrum of oceanic mesocale variability observed by the SEASAT altimeter. J. Geophys. Res., 88, 4331-4341.
14. _, and V. Zlotnicki 1989: Observing ocean mesoscale eddies from GEOSAT altimetry: Preliminary results. Geophys. Res. Lett., 16, 457-460.
15. _, and R. A. Davidson, 1995: A note on the barotropic response of sea level to time-dependent wind forcing. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 24 955-24 964.
16. _, E. J. Christensen, C. A. Yamarone, M. Lefebvre, Y. Ménard, M. Dorrer, and P. Escudier, 1994: TOPEX/POSEIDON mission overview. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 369-24 382.
17. Gill, A. E., and P. P. Niiler, 1973: The theory of the seasonal variability in the ocean. Deep-Sea Res., 20, 141-177.
18. Green, J. S. A., 1970: Transfer properties of the large-scale eddies and the general circulation of the atmosphere. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 96, 157-185.
19. Haidvogel, D. B., and I. M. Held, 1980: Homogeneous quasi-geostrophic turbulence driven by a uniform temperature gradient. J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 2644-2660.
20. Held, I. M., and V. D. Larichev, 1996: A scaling theory for horizontally homogeneous, baroclinically unstable flow on a β-plane. J. Atmos. Sci., 53, 946-952.
21. Hogg, N. G., 1988: Stochastic wave radiation by the Gulf Stream. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 18, 1687-1701.
22. _, 1996: Oceanographic data for parameter estimation. Modern Approaches to Data Assimilation in Ocean Modeling, P. Malanotte-Rizzoli. Ed., Elsevier, 57-76.
23. Houry, S., E. Dombrowsky, P. DeMey, and J.-F. Minster, 1987: Brunt-Väisälä frequency and Rossby radii in the South Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 17, 1619-1626.
24. Julian, P., W. Washington, L. Hembree, and C. Ridley, 1970: On the spectral distribution of large-scale atmospheric kinetic energy. J. Atmos. Sci., 27, 376-387.
25. King, C., D. Stammer, and C. Wunsch, 1994: The CMPO/MIT TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetric data set. Center for Global Change Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rep. 30, 33 pp. plus color plates. [Available from Center for Global Change Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.]
26. Kraichnan, R. H., 1967: Inertial ranges in two-dimensional turbulence. Phys. Fluids, 10(7), 1417-1423.
27. Krauss, W., and C. W. Boning, 1987: Lagrangian properties of eddy fields in the northern North Atlantic as deduced from satellite-tracked buoys. J. Mar. Res., 45, 259-291.
28. _, R. Döscher, A. Lehmann, and T. Viehoff, 1990: On eddy scales in the eastern and northern Atlantic Ocean as a function of latitude. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 18049-18056.
29. Lanczos, C., 1959: Applied Analysis. Prentice-Hall, 539 pp.
30. Le Traon, P. Y., 1991: Time scales of mesoscale variability and their relationship with space scales in the North Atlantic. J. Mar. Res., 49, 467-492.
31. _, 1993: Comments on "Mesoscale variability in the Atlantic Ocean from Geosat altimetry and WOCE high-resolution numerical modeling." J. Phys. Oceanogr., 23, 2729-2732.
32. _, M. C. Rouquet, and C. Boissier, 1990: Spatial scales of mesoscale variability in the North Atlantic as deduced from Geosat data. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 20 267-20 285.
33. Levitus, S., R. Burgett, and T. Boyer, 1994: World Ocean Atlas 1994. Vol 3: Salinity; Vol. 4: Temperature. NOAA Atlas NESDIS 3 & 4, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
34. Ma, X. C., C. K. Shum, R. J. Eanes, and B. D. Tapley, 1994: Determination of ocean tides from the first year of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 809-24 820.
35. McPhaden, M. J., 1996: Monthly period oscillations in equatorial countercurrent. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 6337-6359.
36. McWilliams, J. C., 1989: Statistical properties of decaying geostropic turbulence. J. Fluid Mech., 198, 199-230.
37. _, and H. H. S. Chow, 1981: Equilibrium geostrophic turbulence I: A reference solution in a β-plane channel. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 11, 921-949.
38. _, and Coauthors, 1983: The local dynamics of eddies in the western North Atlantic. Eddies in Marine Science, A. R. Robinson, Ed., Springer-Verlag, 609 pp.
39. Mercier, H., and A. Colin de Verdiere, 1985: Space and time scales of mesoscale motions in the Eastern North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 15, 171-183.
40. MODE Group, 1978: The Mid Ocean Dynamic Experiment. Deep-Sea Res., 25, 859-910.
41. Müller, P., and C. Frankignoul, 1981: Direct atmospheric forcing of geostrophic eddies. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 11, 287-308.
42. _, and G, Siedler, 1992: Multi-year current time series in the North Atlantic Ocean. J. Mar. Res., 50, 63-98.
43. Nerem, R. S. and Coauthors, 1994: Gravity model development for TOPEX/Poseidon: Joint gravity model 1 and 2. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 405-24 448.
44. Pattullo, J. G., W. H. Munk, R. Revelle, and E. Strong, 1955: The seasonal oscillation in the sea level. J. Mar. Res., 14, 88-155.
45. Pedlosky, J., 1977: On the radiation of mesoscale energy in the mid-ocean. Deep-Sea Res., 24, 591-600.
46. Pèrigaud, C., 1990: Sea level oscillations observed with GEOSAT along the two shear fronts of the Pacific North Equatorial Countercurrent. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 7239-7248.
47. Philander, S. G. H., 1978: Forced oceanic waves. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys., 16, 15-46.
48. _, 1990: El Niño, La Niña, and the Southern Oscillation. Academic Press, 239 pp.
49. Press, W. P., S. A. Teukolsky, W. T. Vetterling, and B. P. Flannery, 1992: Numerical Recipes. Cambridge University Press, 963 pp.
50. Radok, R., W. H. Munk, and J. Isaacs, 1967: A note on mid-ocean internal tides. Deep-Sea Res., 14, 121-124.
51. Rhines, P. B., 1975: Waves and turbulence on a β-plane. J. Fluid Mech., 69, 417-443.
52. _, 1979: Geostrophic turbulence. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 11, 401-441.
53. Richardson, P. L., G. E. Hufford, R. Limeburner, and W. S. Brown, 1994: North Brazil Current retroflection eddies. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 5081-5093.
54. Richman, J. G., C. Wunsch, and N. G. Hogg, 1977: Space and time scales and mesoscale motion in the sea. Rev. Geophys., 15, 385-420.
55. Robinson, A. R., 1983: Eddies in Marine Science. Springer-Verlag, 609 pp.
56. Rodriguez, E., and J. M. Martin, 1994: Assessment of the TOPEX altimeter performance using waveform retracking. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 957-24 970.
57. Schäfer, H., and W. Krauss, 1995: Eddy statistics in the South Atlantic as derived from drifter drogued at 100m. J. Mar. Res., 53, 403-431.
58. Schmitz, W. J., Jr., and J. R. Luyten, 1991: Spectral time scales for mid-latitude eddies. J. Mar. Res., 49, 75-105.
59. Shum, C. K., R. A. Werner, D. T. Sandwell, B. H. Zhang, R. S. Nerem, and B. D. Tapley, 1990: Variations of global mesoscale eddy energy observed from GEOSAT. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 17 865-17 876.
60. _, P. L. Woodworth, O. B. Andersen, G. Egbert, O. Francis, C. King, S. Klosko, C. Le Provost, X. Li, J. Molines, M. Parke, R. Ray, M. Schlax, D. Stammer, C. Tierney, P. Vincent, and C. Wunsch 1997: Accuracy assessment of recent ocean tide models. J. Geophys. Res., in press.
61. Simmons, A. J., 1974: The meridional scale of baroclinic waves. J. Atmos. Sci., 31, 1515-1525.
62. Stammer, D., 1992: On mesoscale variability in the Atlantic Ocean - Analysis and assimilation of GEOSAT data (in German). Ber. Inst. Meereskd Kiel, 224, 210 pp.
63. _, 1997: Steric and wind-induced changes in large-scale sea surface topography observed by TOPEX/POSEIDON. J. Geophys. Res., in press.
64. _, and C. Boning, 1992: Mesoscale variability in the Atlantic Ocean from Geosat altimetry and WOCE high-resolution numerical modeling. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 22, 732-752.
65. _, and _, 1993: Reply. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 23, 2733-2735.
66. _, and C. Wunsch, 1994: Preliminary assessment of the accuracy and precision of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data with respect to the large-scale ocean circulation. J. Geophys. Res., 99, 24 584-24 604.
67. _, and _, 1996: Generation and distribution of mesoscale eddies in the North Atlantic Ocean. Warm Water Sphere of the North Atlantic Ocean, W. Krauss, Ed., Gebrüder Bornträger, 159-194.
68. _, R. Tokmakian, A. Semtner, and C. Wunsch, 1996: How well does a 1/4° global circulation model simulate large-scale oceanic observations? J. Geophys. Res., 101, 25 779-25 812.
69. Stone, P., 1972: A simplified radiative-dynamical model for the static stability of rotating atmospheres. J. Atmos. Sci., 29, 405-418.
70. Talley, L. D., 1983: Radiating instabilities in thin baroclinic jets. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 13, 2161-2181.
71. Tapley, B. D., and Coauthors, 1994: The JGM-3 gravity model. Ann. Geophys., 12 (Suppl. 1), p. C192.
72. _, and Coauthors, 1996: The JGM-3 gravity model. J. Geophys. Res., 101 (B12), 28 029-28 049.
73. Trèguier, A. M., and B. L. Hua, 1988: Influence of bottom topography on stratified quasi-geostrophic turbulence in the ocean. J. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., 43, 265-305.
74. Vazquez, J., V. Zlotnicki, and L.-L. Fu, 1990: Sea level variability in the Gulf Stream between Cape Hatteras and 50°W: A Geosat study. J. Geophys. Res., 95, 17 957-17 964.
75. Wunsch, C., 1972: Bermuda sea level in relation to tides, weather, and baroclinic fluctuations. Rev. Geophys., 10, 1-49.
76. _, 1981: Low-frequency variability in the sea. Evolution of Physical Oceanography, B. A. Warren, and C. Wunsch, Eds., The MIT Press.
77. _, 1991: Large-scale response of the ocean to atmospheric forcing at low frequencies. J. Geophys. Res., 96, 15 083-15 092.
78. _, 1997: The vertical partition of oceanic horizontal kinetic energy and the spectrum of global variability. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 27, 1770-1794.
79. _, and A. E. Gill, 1976: Observations of equatorially trapped waves in Pacific sea level variations. Deep-Sea Res., 23, 371-390.
80. _, and D. Stammer, 1995: The global frequency-wavenumber spectrum of oceanic variability estimated from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 24 895-24910.
81. Wyrtki, K., L. Magaard, and J. Hager, 1976: Eddy energy in the oceans. J. Geophys. Res., 81, 2641-2646.