An Integrated Network of In situ and Remote Sensors to Characterize the Somali Current
Abstract
An observational program applying a suite of in situ sensors to study regional surface currents, monsoon response (including sea st"ate and basin circulation) in the tropical western Indian Ocean is proposed. This proposal will capitalize on the rapidly maturing m"icro-sensor, computer, and wireless telecommunication technologies to develop a robust, integrated approach for measuring physical p"arameters to assist in understanding the physical oceanographic processes in the western Indian Ocean. Low-level atmospheric circulation over the Indian Ocean has two dominant manifestations: a southwest monsoon during the summer period (June ~ September) and a northeast monsoon during the winter period (December ~ March). The influence that the monsoonal flow has on the Indian Ocean is seen in the reversal of the ocean surface circulation with a striking reversal observed in the Somali Current . Time series data from in situ sensors will be collected over multiple seasonal monsoonal cycles to aid in our investigation of the linkages among the regional" currents and the larger basin circulation. Specifically, this investigation~s long term objectives are: Investigate the continuity" of the Somali Current and systems and linkages to other regional currents and the interior of the Arabian Sea.Investigate the large scale features and the feedback mechanisms that affect the predictability of the Somali Current and western Arabian Sea Circulation Measure the growth of surface waves in the context of wave-current interactions during monsoonal forcing of the Somali Current.Assess new in situ and remote sensor technologies and their communication protocols Integrate the sensor networks to facilitate data acquisition/fusion. Develop methods to avail these data streams for assimilation into numerical models.Introduce oceanography as an applied science to the Government of the Seychelles .The project will deploy Lagrangian and drifting expendable sensors that can be rapidly deployed in maritime and coastal waters at time and space scales required to better characterize the oceanography and its forcing phenomena in the western Indian Ocean. Autonomous sensors will reliably telemeter data using Iridium SATCOMS for on-scene data as"sessment, fusion with other data, and assimilation into numerical models that will be operated by other team members of the DRI. In"" addition to the scientific objectives of the program, these new streams of near real-time data will support Navy operational and ou""treach objectives, and host nation educational.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712902
Entities
People
- Luca Centurioni
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego