1 / 23

Coastal Ocean Dynamics Detected by Surface Current Radar and AUVs

This research aims to provide a first-order description of complex oceanic flows and their relationship to surface processes in the littoral ocean subjected to various currents, boundary currents, topographical changes, and surface winds. The study is supported by ONR and focuses on coastal processes, flow fields, boundary currents, topography, waves, and boundary layer winds. The research utilizes radar, AUVs, mooring, and ship-based approaches, and is applicable to any theater. The objectives include designing and implementing multiple ADCPs, mapping currents and relating them to surface dynamics, studying coherent structures, and assessing boundary layer processes during storm and quiescent periods. The experimental design includes VHF mode of OSCR, ship-based CTD/ADCP, AUV sampling patterns, cyclesonde, NOVA/USF moorings, and Navy ADCPs. The research has applications in US Navy coastal surveys, METOC operations, ship-based operations in different venues/theaters, coupling with models, and providing environmental data to assess the impact on fleet operations.

trowe
Download Presentation

Coastal Ocean Dynamics Detected by Surface Current Radar and AUVs

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 4-D COASTAL OCEAN DYNAMICS DETECTED BY SURFACE CURRENT RADAR AND AUVs L. K. Shay Meteorology and Physical Oceanography University of Miami P. Edgar An Ocean Engineering Florida Atlantic University SCIENTIFIC GOAL: To provide a first-order description of complex oceanic flows and their relationship to surface processes in the littoral ocean subjected to tidal currents, western boundary currents, topographical changes and surface winds. RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY ONR.

  2. LITTORAL ZONE • Complex Coastal Processes. • 2-D/ 3-D Flow Fields. • Boundary Current & Topography. • Waves & Boundary Layer Winds. • Impact: Civilian and US Navy Needs. • Radar/AUV/Mooring/Ship-based Approach. • Applicable to Any Theater.

  3. ONR CURRENT EFFORTS • NICOP Results (AUV-based Sampling). • COPE 1,3 (HF-Radar Sampling). • SFOMC (AUV/VHF-Radar/Mooring-based Sampling Strategy). • Planned:Longer Range AUV.

  4. VHF RADAR • Phased Array 32 Elements. • Electronic Beam Forming. • 700 Cells (250 m resolution). • 60 km Square Domain. • 20 Minute Sample Cycle. • Theoretical Limit 11 km. • Spectra and Currents.

  5. ENGINEERINGOBJECTIVES: • Design/Implement Multiple ADCPs as Part of AUV Payload. • Evaluate Side-Looking Beam Orientations. • Map Currents Relate To Surface Dynamics. • Train Next Generation Graduate Students (i.e. Tactical Oceanography)

  6. SCIENCE OBJECTIVES: • Coherent Structures (Vortices, Fronts) • Isolate BC and Tidal Flows/Forcing of Iws At Shelf Break. • Expand IWs Into Baroclinic Modes. • Determine Wavenumber Spectra. • Assess Boundary Layer Processes During Storm and Quiescent Periods.

  7. EXPERIMENTALDESIGN • VHF Mode of OSCR (7x9 km: 250 m Cell Spacing). • Ship-Based CTD/ADCP (2x2 km) • 4-AUV Sampling Patterns (0.5-1km). • Cyclesonde. • NOVA/USF Moorings. • NAVY ADCPs.

  8. Experimental Domain

  9. Sub-Mesoscale Vortex

  10. Vortex Propagation

  11. Surface Current Regimes Strong Florida Current Lobe Structure

  12. Mixed Layer: (Current and Turbulence) Tidal Current: Bottom Boundary: Turbulence: Planned Adverse Weather: 6 and 12-hr repeated grids : 500 m x 500 m. 15-26 hr: 1km x 1km 7 hr: 1 km x .500 km 4-6 hr: 1 km Xsects 12 hr : 500 m x 500 m (March-April 00) AUV MISSIONS

  13. Ocean Explorer AUV

  14. AUV Section

  15. AUV Maps

  16. Ship ADCP Transect

  17. Tidal Height and Current Analysis Subinertial Flows and Vorticity (CTD) Near-Inertial Waves (27.4 h )/Winds IWs (k,l,m,w space) Mixed Layer Flows (Langmuir Cells) Grided Obs Initial Conditions for LES Model Subgrid (<1 Km) Parameterizations Compare Obs to Simulations Optimize Adaptive AUV-Sample Strategy ANALYSIS &MODELING

  18. Ship ADCP/AUV and OSCR Comparison

  19. Mooring Comparison

  20. TIDAL PROCESSES • Real Time Tidal Analyses After 7 Days. • Sea-Level Variations (Continuity). • Prediction versus Analysis (M2 , K1,). • Operations: Tidal Prediction (i.e. Chesapeake Bay). • Vertical Structure. • AUV Sampling of Surface Current Signatures.

  21. Tidal Ellipses at Cope

  22. SFTF APPLICATIONS • US Navy Coastal Surveys. • METOC (JTFX) Operations. • Ship-based Operations In Differing Venues/Theaters. • Coupling With Models (i.e. LES). • Provides Environmental Data To Assess Impact on Fleet Operations.

  23. SUMMARY • Synergistic Approach: Synoptic Variability. • Fine-Scale to Submesoscale Processes. • 2-D/3-D Variability not Mean. • Real Time: JTFX (Ships,Aircraft,AUV). • Improve Predictive Capability At Navy Centers. • Train Next-Generation Students.

More Related