Validation Test Report for the Improved Synthetic Ocean Profile (ISOP) System, Part I: Synthetic Profile Methods and Algorithm

Abstract

A new method is developed to utilize the relatively abundant satellite observations of sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) and estimates of mixed layer depth (MLD) to create synthetic profiles of temperature and salinity for assimilation in the Navy's Global Ocean Forecasting System (GOFS). The traditional methods for creating synthetics have limitations particularly with regard to accuracy of the vertical ocean gradients. To address this issue, the Improved Synthetic Ocean Profile (ISOP) system has been developed to more correctly represent the ocean's vertical gradients using a three-layer approach accounting for the ocean's (1) surface mixed layer, (2) vertical gradients below the mixed layer through the thermocline, and (3) relatively quiescent depths. The present document covers the details of the background historical in situ observation database, the three-layer approach, the algorithms for each layer, and the global ISOP stand-alone synthetic validation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 15, 2013
Accession Number
ADA585251

Entities

People

  • Charlie N. Barron
  • Jan M. Dastugue
  • Michael R. Carnes
  • Robert W. Helber
  • Tamara L. Townsend

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Data Sets
  • Databases
  • Deep Oceans
  • Eigenvalues
  • Eigenvectors
  • Equations
  • Grids
  • Gulf Stream
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Surface Temperature
  • Three Dimensional
  • Topography

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Space