Oceanic Wind Speed and Wind Stress Estimation from Ambient Noise Measurements.
Abstract
From ship records of wind speed and 5 kHz acoustic ambient noise measured on ocean bottom instruments during Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment (MODE - I), it was found that noise records may be used to monitor wind speed and wind stress over the ocean. Time series of wind speeds can be produced from noise measurements via the linear relationship found between the noise spectrum level and the logarithm of the wind speed. By independently determining wind direction, the wind stress has also been estimated and vector-averaged. The monthly mean stress from the authors' data is higher than values computed from mean wind speeds or from probability distributions of wind speeds in climatological records. Power spectra of these wind speed records decrease smoothly with increasing frequency for periods between 2 to 50 hours. Noise pressure records exhibited significant coherence between pairs of localities 100 to 200 km apart during the spring, as organized weather fronts passed through the region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA036345
Entities
People
- D. Randolph Watts
- H. Thomas Rossby
- Ping-tung Shaw
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island