Skip to main content

Statistics and Physical Oceanography (1993) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

2: Statistical Isues in the Multiple-Scale Variability of Oceanographic Fields
Pages 17-22

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 17...
... 1 see 1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year 1 0 years 1mm 1cm 1dm 1m 10m 100m 1km 10km lOOkm 1000km ,1— ~ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 f \ Molecular \ Processes Individual I Turbulent Movement \ Patch Size - Diurnal Molecular \ _ -~ Processes ,~ Surface Individual /, Turbulent ~ Langmair `\ \ Movement \~` Patch Size j Cells Ine/rtial/lnternal \ Waves ~ Intemal A\ ~ / ( ~N,,'~` ~ MI'9nrakttiOonn ~: ( Synoptic Storms ) /~~/' \W it J I' \ ~ Phytoplankton ;_~ Coastally ~ ~.N _~ ~ Fronts & ~ \ Zooplankton ~ Eddiest,Seasona/MLD& ~ Patch ~ 3~ Biomass Cycles ( \ Mesoscale Phenomena ~ ~ FIGURE 2.1 A schematic diagram illustrating the relevant time and space scales of several physical and biological processes important to the physics and ecosystem of the upper ocean.
Read the entire page →
From page 18...
... Ocean circulation on basin scales is caused by large-scale curl of the wind stress. This multiplicity of the energy sources and sinks and the interactions between different scales and individual components of ocean dynamics are responsible for the extreme complexity of patterns of ocean circulations sea surface temperature, sea level' and so on as observed both in satellite images and in highly complicated trajectories of free-drifting floats.
Read the entire page →
From page 19...
... . SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS Satellite instruments measure at different incidence angles the electromagnetic characteristics of the emitted radiation (passive instruments working in visible, infrared, and microwave ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum)
Read the entire page →
From page 20...
... All these factors raise issues regarding correct interpretation of satellite measurements and their use in numerical models of ocean circulation. Spatial inhomogeneity of surface properties on scales within and beyond the footprint size, and these properties varying nonlinearly along any direction within a footprint, produce an appreciable dependence of satellite measurements upon the instrument employed.
Read the entire page →
From page 21...
... izations; 14-GHz carrier frequency Synthetic aperture Analog and/or Length and 10- to Bun- Usually only radar: high-spatial- digital matrices of direction, or 100-m deeds regional resolution radar radar cross section surface gravity linear of coverage for images of sea surface showing spatial and internal size, kilo- selected roughness distribu- varia-tion of waves, wave depending meters locations tion for C, L, and X surface roughness number spectra on the mode bands. Other bands of surface frequency have also been roughness electromag employed spatial varia- netic band, tion, surface etc.
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... There are statistical research opportunities in modeling a random field given: 1. observational data representing averages over regions (pixels)
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • wind speed
  • radar cross
  • surface temperature
  • fluid velocity
  • sea level

  • cross section
  • sea ice
  • oceanographic fields
  • wind stress
  • surface gravity

  • brightness temperature
  • surface roughness
  • ocean circulation
  • ocean dynamics
  • energy sources

  • satellite instruments
  • satellite measurements
  • return pulse
  • physical models
  • surface wind

  • spatial inhomogeneity
  • gravity waves
  • microwave radiometer
  • velocity gradients
  • emitted radiation

  • radio brightness
  • carrier frequency
  • fluid particles
  • ocean surface
  • observational data


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.