Airborne Remote Sensing of Inner Shelf Internal Waves and Sub-mesoscale Features

Abstract

Airborne measurements of internal waves and sub-mesoscale processes in the inner shelf region are proposed. The proposed approach differs from previous efforts to study internal waves using remote sensing techniques in that analysis of internal wave signatures will be supplemented with measurements of geophysical parameters such as surface velocity and surface temperature. The hypothesis behind this approach is that these measurements will enable improved estimation of internal wave parameters. To accomplish the proposed goals, an airborne instrumentation package consisting of an along-track interferometric synthetic aperture radar and a wide field of view infrared camera system will be used. This system will make measurements of relevant surface parameters including, relative surface roughness, surface velocity and temperature fields, and spatial-temporal internal wave morphodynamics (e.g. wavelengths, phase and group speed, spatial complexity). Sampling strategies with the aircraft will be developed to track the evolution of the waves through the inner shelf and also to coincide with in situ sensors locations. The measurements will be used to develop techniques to characterize inner shelf processes with remote sensing techniques, to estimate products such as surface wave height, and mixing and energy dissipation rates, and to improve and validate internal wave models for use in shallow near-shore waters.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Aug 12, 2016
Source ID
N000141512389

Entities

People

  • Gordon Farquharson

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Washington

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.