Improvement of a Nonlinear Internal Wave Tactical Decision Aid
Abstract
The long-term goal of this project is to develop a prediction methodology for the geographic location of nonlinear internal waves that can be used as the basis for a future Tactical Decision Aid. The principal objective is to identify the inputs and establish a procedure that can serve as the basis for the prediction of nonlinear internal wave occurrences. The effort makes use of the internal wave signatures recorded in satellite imagery and a parameterized model function to estimate a two-dimensional phase speed field over the geographic region of interest. The phase speeds are in turn used to calculate the internal wave propagation times, where contours of propagation time represent the internal wave locations for a particular time since generation. The parameters of the model function are found by minimizing the difference between the calculated propagation times and the observed propagation times for the waves in the geo-referenced satellite imagery. The current effort is focused on improving the model by examining fortnightly and seasonal variations as well as the effects of the barotropic tidal currents. The initial work is dedicated to the northern portion of the South China Sea between the Luzon Strait and the Chinese coast near Honk Kong, but the approach has been used in other regions, including the Sulu Sea, the Celebes Sea, and the Andaman Sea.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA527911
Entities
People
- Christopher R. Jackson