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My current research interest of relevance to this workshop is in examining the historical and WOCE data sets for evidence of the patterns of variability on spatial scales larger than mesoscale eddies and frequencies on the seasonal cycle and lower. The primary data sources for this are likely to be altimetric and coastal sea level, upper ocean hydrography and moored temperature sensors, although current meters, floats, drifters and satellite SST may also be useful. This data analysis is currently being done in collaboration with Dudley Chelton (OSU).
The interpretive viewpoint that I wish to test and refine is that most of this variability is some combination of wind-driven currents and atmospherically forced buoyancy anomalies, with a substantial component of coastal- and Rossby-wave propagation in the oceanic response, modulated by the mean circulation as a waveguide.
The primary methodology is to use several numerical model configurations, each with realistic basin geometry and topography and historical records for the atmospheric forcing. By comparing their solutions with each other and with the data, and by adding and subtracting elements in their posings, I will attempt to establish causal explanations for the observed phenomena. At this time three model configurations are being developed:
In the GCMs several new parameterizations will be used for mesoscale, boundary-layer, and interior microscale transports (e.g., Gent and McWilliams, 1990; Gent et al., 1995; Large et al., 1994).
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