Understanding the ocean-atmosphere coupling in the Northern Indian Ocean
Abstract
The MISO-BOB DRI has the following primary goals: (1) Understanding the oceaninfluence on the intensity and propagation speed (roughly 1 degree north per day) of the coupledocean-atmosphere MISO signal. (2) Determining how the large-scale upper ocean variability" inthe Northern Indian Ocean, which includes shallow salinity-driven mixed layers in the north anddeeper mixed layers in the south"", influences the MISO signal. (3) Evaluating how thesubmesoscale and mesoscale perturbations and processes that govern the oceanic" background statecommunicate with and influence the MISO. (4) Integrate data and models to determine the spatialand temporal scales at which atmospheric and oceanic signatures need to be coupled to accuratelycapture the MISO propagation. This proposal will address the above using (A) the scienceobjectives proposed for this study and (B) facilitate and assist in fulfilling the overall DRIobjectives via the collaboration coordination with Indian partnering institutions and scientists.(A) The scientific objectives of the proposed work by the PI are centered around answering thefollowing questions: (i) Is there variability at scales O(1-10km) in the" air-sea fluxes, arisingfrom submesoscale variability in the ocean? (ii) Does variability of air-sea fluxes at suchscales in the a"tmosphere generate coherent convection patterns over larger scales? (iii) Doesthe generation of such coherent structures explain th"e propagation of MISO signals? Thesequestions will be answered by a range of data analyses from large scales to sub-mesoscales, a s""uiteof process modeling experiments which will employ multiple variants of k-epsilon and otherturbulent mixing models, coupled wit"h atmospheric boundary layer represented by a hierarchy ofincreasing complexity. Our working hypothesis is that large analyses will reveal the competitionbetween wind forced and oceanic mesoscale eddies for near surface currents and shear whilefrontal and freshwater dispersal processes at O(1-10km) sub-mesoscale determine the near surfacestratification and its horizontal variability. Furth"er, that these phenomena affect the sea surfacetemperature and provide feedback mechanisms to the air-sea fluxes which influence MI"SO.(B) PI Tandon will also assist in (i) guiding sustained collaborations with various Ministry ofEarth Sciences institutions in I"ndia (including Indian Institite of Tropical Meteorology, IndianMeteorological Department, Indian National Center for Ocean Informa""tion Services, NationalInstitute for Ocean Technology), partnering with Indian scientists at educational institutions suchas the I""ndian Institute of Science, various Indian Institutes of Technology. (ii) liaise withappropriate international partners to fulfill" formalities of port calls for US research vessels andother scientific organizational activities as necessary to achieve the observ"ational and collaborationobjectives of MISO-Bob. (iii) hosting the international collaboration partners for science meetings,joint"" analyses, workshops and planning activities as needed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712355
Entities
People
- Amit Tandon
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Massachusetts