OPTOMA Program interim report
Subtitle: The Airborne Ocean Thermal Structure Mapping Project, February, 1983 through February, 1985
By: by Marie C. Colton, Christopher N.K. Mooers
Contributors: Mooers, C. N. K. (Christopher N. K.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Dept. of Oceanography
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1985
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 98
Subjects: OCEANOGRAPHY; OCEAN CURRENTS
Other titles: NPS-68-85-008.
Description: The Ocean Prediction Through Observation, Modeling and Analysis (OPTOMA) Program      goals are to develop an ocean descriptive predictive system for studying and forecasting the      evolution of ocean mesoscale features and the California Current System. Attainment of these      goals requires the establishment of a broad-base ocean observing and monitoring system that      includes, hydrographic research cruises, moored arrays, and remotely sensed data, etc. To      forecast the evolution of the oceanic flow field, the observing system must include a means of      obtaining real-time, synoptic maps for the initialization and verification of the dynamic      model(s) used. P3 flights to deploy airborne expendable bathythermographs are a clear      choice for frequent mappings. Since Feb. 1983 six OPTOMA missions have been flown. A      total of 325 AXBTs have been successfully deployed off the northern and central California      coasts. Data analysis reinforce recent discoveries about the character of the California      Current System: the current regime is highly variable in nature and is comprised of cool      anomalies, mesoscale eddies, 'squirts' and jets, current filaments and fronts. An airborne      digital data acquisition system, built around an HP9816 microprocessor and a Sippican MK9      digitizing unit, digitizes the AXBT audio signal, then stores the profiles on diskette.
Notes: Title from cover.

"NPS-68-85-008."

"August 1985."

AD A160 283.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-93).

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