Transitioning Results from Recent ONR WESTPAC Field Programs to Operational Use

Abstract

The long-term goal of this research is to enhance our understanding of coastal oceanography by means of applying simple dynamical theories to high-quality observations obtained in the field. The objectives of this grant are as follows: (1) continue analyzing recent data sets from the Western Pacific operating region (WESTPAC) and facilitate transitioning these basic research outcomes to operational use, and (2) improve our understanding of the circulation in the western Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC) and its impact on the neighboring boundary currents and downstream variability in the western North Pacific Ocean. Over the past 15 years, ONR has organized several major field efforts in the WESTPAC region. The PI has personally organized, participated in, and published results from several of these areas, including the Japan Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Luzon Straits. Ongoing work continues in the eastern and western South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. All of these programs have identified oceanographic features with sufficient strength, persistence, and spatial extent to have identifiable impacts on acoustic propagation and therefore tactical antisubmarine warfare (ASW) exploitation. Examples of such features include the north wall of the Kuroshio current, westward propagating mesoscale eddies, surface mixed layers of varying strength and extent, and high-frequency nonlinear internal waves. Coincident modeling studies during the field efforts demonstrated that Navy models can reproduce these features with some degree of forecast skill, thus facilitating their inclusion in tactical planning via the NAVO ASW reach-back cell. This grant will continue analyzing recent data sets and facilitate transitioning these basic research outcomes to operational use.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2011
Accession Number
ADA557442

Entities

People

  • Steven R. Ramp

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Propagation
  • Acoustics
  • Data Processing
  • Data Sets
  • East China Sea
  • Frequency
  • Internal Waves
  • Japan Sea
  • North Pacific Ocean
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Philippine Sea
  • Physical Oceanography
  • Pilot Studies
  • South China Sea
  • Underwater Acoustics

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies