Cover Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

  • Black, P. G., and Coauthors, 2007: Air–sea exchange in hurricanes: Synthesis of observations from the Coupled Boundary Layer Air–Sea Transfer Experiment. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88 , 357–374.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chao, S-Y., Ko D-S. , Lien R-C. , and Shaw P-T. , 2007: Assessing the west ridge of Luzon Strait as an internal wave mediator. J. Oceanogr., 63 , 897–911.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Duda, T. F., Lynch J. F. , Irish J. D. , Beardsley R. C. , Ramp S. R. , Chiu C-S. , Tang T. Y. , and Yang Y-J. , 2004: Internal tide and nonlinear internal wave behavior at the continental slope in the northern South China Sea. IEEE J. Oceanic Eng., 29 , 1105–1130.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gill, A., 1982: Atmosphere–Ocean Dynamics. Elsevier, 662 pp.

  • Helfrich, K. R., and Melville W. K. , 2006: Long nonlinear internal waves. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 38 , 395–425.

  • Jan, S., Lien R-C. , and Ting C-H. , 2008: Numerical study of baroclinic tides in Luzon Strait. J. Oceanogr., 64 , 789–802.

  • Klymak, J. M., Pinkel R. , Liu C-T. , Liu A. K. , and David L. , 2006: Prototypical solitons in the South China Sea. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33 , L11607. doi:10.1029/2006GL025932.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ko, D. S., Chao S-Y. , Huang P. , and Lin S. F. , 2009: Anomalous upwelling in Nan Wan: July 2008. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., 20 , 839–852.

  • Large, W. G., McWilliams J. C. , and Niiler P. P. , 1986: Upper ocean thermal response to strong autumnal forcing of the northeast Pacific. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 16 , 1524–1550.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lynch, J. F., Ramp S. R. , Chiu C-S. , Tang T-Y. , Yang Y. J. , and Simmen J. A. , 2004: Research highlights from the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment in the South China Sea. IEEE J. Oceanic Eng., 29 , 1067–1074.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McPhaden, M. J., Bahr F. , Dupenhoat Y. , Firing E. , Hayes S. P. , Niiler P. P. , Richardson P. L. , and Toole J. M. , 1992: The response of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean to westerly wind bursts during November 1989 to January 1990. J. Geophys. Res., 97 , 14289–14303.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Milliff, R. F., Niiler P. P. , Morzel J. , Sybrandy A. E. , Nychka D. , and Large W. G. , 2003: Mesoscale correlation length scales from NSCAT and Minimet surface wind retrievals in the Labrador Sea. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 20 , 513–533.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Moum, J. N., Klymak J. M. , Nash J. D. , Perlin A. , and Smyth W. D. , 2007: Energy transport by nonlinear internal waves. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37 , 1968–1988.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Niiler, P. P., 2001: The world ocean surface circulation. Ocean Circulation and Climate, G. Siedler, J. Church, and J. Gould, Eds., Academic Press, 193–204.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ramp, S. R., and Coauthors, 2004: Internal solitons in the northeastern South China Sea. Part I: Sources and deep water propagation. IEEE J. Oceanic Eng., 29 , 1157–1181.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhao, Z., Klemas V. , Zheng Q. , and Yan X-H. , 2004: Remote sensing evidence for baroclinic tide origin of internal solitary waves in the northeastern South China Sea. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31 , L06302. doi:10.1029/2003GL019077.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 173 91 3
PDF Downloads 110 52 0
Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Observations of Large-Amplitude Nonlinear Internal Waves from a Drifting Array: Instruments and Methods

L. R. Centurioni1
View More View Less
  • 1 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Print Publication:
01 Oct 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHO774.1
Page(s):
1711–1731
Restricted access

Abstract

This paper presents a novel methodology applied to the observation of large-amplitude nonlinear internal waves in the upper ocean from an array of drifting instruments. The characteristics of the instrument used—an Autonomous Drifting Ocean Station with acoustic current profilers (ADOS-A), which is a drifting buoy with a 200-m-long thermistor chain, several profiling acoustic current meters, and a GPS—are discussed. The ADOS-A is lightweight and relatively inexpensive and can be deployed from aircrafts or from ships of opportunity. Three packets of large-amplitude, nonlinear internal waves were observed in the South China Sea. The speed and the direction of propagation of the waves are accurately determined and their characteristics and evolution over space and time scales comparable with those of the waves, as they propagate through the array, are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Luca R. Centurioni, 9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0213, La Jolla, CA 92093. Email: lcenturioni@ucsd.edu

Abstract

This paper presents a novel methodology applied to the observation of large-amplitude nonlinear internal waves in the upper ocean from an array of drifting instruments. The characteristics of the instrument used—an Autonomous Drifting Ocean Station with acoustic current profilers (ADOS-A), which is a drifting buoy with a 200-m-long thermistor chain, several profiling acoustic current meters, and a GPS—are discussed. The ADOS-A is lightweight and relatively inexpensive and can be deployed from aircrafts or from ships of opportunity. Three packets of large-amplitude, nonlinear internal waves were observed in the South China Sea. The speed and the direction of propagation of the waves are accurately determined and their characteristics and evolution over space and time scales comparable with those of the waves, as they propagate through the array, are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Luca R. Centurioni, 9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0213, La Jolla, CA 92093. Email: lcenturioni@ucsd.edu

Save