Mixed-Layer Hindcasts Conducted at OWS Victor with Initialization from Synthetic Profiles/Mixed-Layer Hindcasts Conducted with BTs Taken During 1990 with Atmospheric Forcing from NOGAPS
Abstract
Mixed-layer hindcasts were conducted with data from Ocean Weathership Station Victor (164 deg E, 34 deg N) to investigate the question of whether the near-surface thermal structure of synthetic temperature profiles that are determined from observations of sea-surface height (SSH) and sea-surface temperature (SST) can be improved by mixed-layer hindcasting. Synthetic profiles were calculated at Victor based on the SSH and SST of observed deep temperature profiles. Mixed-layer hindcasts were initialized from the synthetic profiles, forced with wind stresses and heat fluxes calculated from 3-h meteorological observations at Victor, and integrated up to the time the observed profiles were taken. Hindcast durations ranged from 12 to 120 h. The mixed-layer depths (MLDs) of the synthetic and hindcast profiles were compared with the MLDs of the observed profiles, and mean and root-mean-square (rms) MLD errors were calculated on a monthly and annual basis. Overall, the rms MLD error of the hindcast profiles was lower than that of the synthetic profiles. However, the improvement was due mainly to the shallow MLD bias of the synthetic profiles relative to the observed MLDs in the fall and winter. For May through August, when we expected the hindcasts to show the most skill, the rins MLD error of the hindcasts was generally worse than that of the synthetic profiles. An inspection of the individual hindcasts in June and July showed a number of instances where the observed MLD was deeper than would be expected during light winds and strong heating, and shallower than would be expected when the winds were stronger.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 30, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284749
Entities
People
- Paul J. Martin
- Richard Allard
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory