Lagrangian measurements of eddy characteristics in the California current system
By: by James Gary Sires
Contributors: Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Monterey, CA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 122
Subjects: Eddies; Ocean currents; Measurement
Description: During the Eastern Boundary Current program in 1993, 96 Argos-tracked surface drifters, drogued to 15 m depth, and satellite thermal imagery were used to provide a description of the mesoscale features in the California Current System off the northern California coast. The drifter movements and satellite images revealed a highly energetic series of filaments and eddies that dominated the summer flow field off the coast, similar to those noted in the earlier CODE, OPTOMA, and CTZ studies. Winter mesoscale activity in the region was less energetic, with the principle feature being the poleward-flowing Davidson Current. Translation rates for mesoscale eddies were deduced from drifter trajectories in the summer period. Translation rates, vorticity, divergence and eddy center positions were also estimated for a cyclone and anticylone sampled in July and September, respectively, by constraining observed drifter velocities to a linear Taylor expansion in the least square sense. Translation rates from this technique were similar to those observed from previous shipboard surveys and drifter motions. Using observations over 7 (12) days, the cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddy was determined to have a translation rate of 3.7 (4.2) cm/s to the southwest. The least square technique, applied to shorter time periods, however, provided unreliable estimates of eddy properties when drifters were not evenly distributed around the eddy.
Notes: Cover title.

"Thesis."

Originally issued as the author's thesis (M.S.--Naval Postgraduate School, 1997).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-120).