Objective Analysis of Oceanic Data for Coast Guard Trajectory Models.
Abstract
The Coast Guard uses ocean surface velocity fields as input to trajectory models in search planning to determine search area movement. Statistical techniques, called objective analysis, are used by meteorologists and oceanographers to combine observed data, which are irregularly distributed in space and time, to make conclusions about the total variation of the variables within a region of interest. The purpose of the Phase 1 research was to study the feasibility of adapting objective analysis techniques for use with Coast Guard data. The following research was completed. Objective analysis techniques were used to combine irregularly spaced and temporally observed ocean current velocity data in order to determine an optimally estimated velocity field and associated error field. The technique was applied to a drifting buoy data set collected by the Coast Guard. A numerical experiment was also conducted to examine the number of buoys required to determine the velocity field in a typical Search and Rescue domain. Techniques for combining two velocity fields were also investigated. The research findings were that objective analysis techniques can be used to provide the Coast Guard with accurate estimates, in real time, of ocean surface velocity and associated error. Potential applications of this research are in support of Coast Guard Search and Rescue, Ice Patrol and Environmental Protection missions. (AN)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA292884