Autonomous Surface Vehicle Measurements of the Ocean’s Response to Tropical Cyclone Freda

Luc Lenain Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California

Search for other papers by Luc Lenain in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
W. Kendall Melville Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California

Search for other papers by W. Kendall Melville in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Abstract

On 31 December 2012, an instrumented autonomous surface vehicle (ASV; Wave Glider) transiting across the Pacific from Hawaii to Australia as part of the Pacific Crossing (PacX) project came very close (46 km) to the center of a category 3 Tropical Cyclone (TC), Freda, experiencing winds of up to 37 and significant wave heights close to 10 m. The Wave Glider was instrumented for surface ocean–lower atmosphere (SOLA) measurements, including atmospheric pressure, surface winds and temperature, sea surface temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (chlorophyll-a and turbidity), and surface-wave directional spectra. Such measurements in close proximity to a tropical cyclone are rare. This study presents novel observations of the ocean’s response in three quadrants of TC Freda, collected from the instrumented glider. Evolution of the wind, the directional wave field, the sea surface temperature, and the Stokes drift profile (calculated from the wave directional spectrum) as Freda passed near the vehicle are examined. Results are discussed in the context of the recent coupled wind-wave modeling and large eddy simulation (LES) modeling of the marine boundary layer in Hurricane Frances (). Processes by which cold nutrient-rich waters are entrained and mixed from below into the mixed layer as the TC passes near the Wave Glider are presented and discussed. The results of this encounter of an autonomous surface vehicle with TC Freda supports the use of ASVs for regular TC (hurricane) monitoring to complement remote sensing and “hurricane hunter” aircraft missions.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: L. Lenain, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0213. E-mail: llenain@ucsd.edu

Abstract

On 31 December 2012, an instrumented autonomous surface vehicle (ASV; Wave Glider) transiting across the Pacific from Hawaii to Australia as part of the Pacific Crossing (PacX) project came very close (46 km) to the center of a category 3 Tropical Cyclone (TC), Freda, experiencing winds of up to 37 and significant wave heights close to 10 m. The Wave Glider was instrumented for surface ocean–lower atmosphere (SOLA) measurements, including atmospheric pressure, surface winds and temperature, sea surface temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (chlorophyll-a and turbidity), and surface-wave directional spectra. Such measurements in close proximity to a tropical cyclone are rare. This study presents novel observations of the ocean’s response in three quadrants of TC Freda, collected from the instrumented glider. Evolution of the wind, the directional wave field, the sea surface temperature, and the Stokes drift profile (calculated from the wave directional spectrum) as Freda passed near the vehicle are examined. Results are discussed in the context of the recent coupled wind-wave modeling and large eddy simulation (LES) modeling of the marine boundary layer in Hurricane Frances (). Processes by which cold nutrient-rich waters are entrained and mixed from below into the mixed layer as the TC passes near the Wave Glider are presented and discussed. The results of this encounter of an autonomous surface vehicle with TC Freda supports the use of ASVs for regular TC (hurricane) monitoring to complement remote sensing and “hurricane hunter” aircraft missions.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: L. Lenain, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0213. E-mail: llenain@ucsd.edu
Save
  • Babin, S. M., Carton J. A. , Dickey T. D. , and Wiggert J. D. , 2004: Satellite evidence of hurricane-induced phytoplankton blooms in an oceanic desert. J. Geophys. Res.,109, C03043, doi:10.1029/2003JC001938.

  • Bell, M. M., Montgomery M. T. , and Emanuel K. A. , 2012: Air-sea enthalpy and momentum exchange at major hurricane wind speeds observed during CBLAST. J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 31973222, doi:10.1175/JAS-D-11-0276.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bender, M. A., Ginis I. , Tuleya R. , Thomas B. , and Marchok T. , 2007: The operational GFDL coupled hurricane–ocean prediction system and a summary of its performance. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 39653989, doi:10.1175/2007MWR2032.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 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, 357374, doi:10.1175/BAMS-88-3-357.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brodtkorb, P. A., Johannesson P. , Lindgren G. , Rychlik I. , Rydén J. , and Sjö E. , 2000: WAFO: A Matlab toolbox for analysis of random waves and loads. Proc. 10th Int. Offshore and Polar Engineering Conf., Vol III, Seattle, WA, ISOPE, 343–350.

  • Charnock, H., Francis J. R. D. , Sheppard P. A. , Pasquill F. , Murgatroyd R. J. , and Malkus J. , 1955: Medium-scale turbulence in the trade winds. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 81, 634635, doi:10.1002/qj.49708135022.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Chen, K.-S., Hung C.-C. , Gong G.-C. , Chou W.-C. , Chung C.-C. , Shih Y.-Y. , and Wang C.-C. , 2013: Enhanced POC export in the oligotrophic northwest Pacific Ocean after extreme weather events. Geophys. Res. Lett.,40, 5728–5734, doi:10.1002/2013GL058300.

  • Chung, C.-C., Gong G.-C. , and Hung C.-C. , 2012: Effect of Typhoon Morakot on microphytoplankton population dynamics in the subtropical northwest Pacific. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 448, 3949, doi:10.3354/meps09490.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Craik, A. D. D., and Leibovich S. , 1976: A rational model for Langmuir circulations. J. Fluid Mech., 73, 401426, doi:10.1017/S0022112076001420.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • D’Asaro, E. A., Harcourt R. , Terrill E. , Niiler P. P. , and Sanford T. B. , 2006: The hurricane mixing front. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87, 14921492.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • D’Asaro, E. A., Sanford T. B. , Niiler P. P. , and Terrill E. J. , 2007: Cold wake of Hurricane Frances. Geophys. Res. Lett.,34, L15609, doi:10.1029/2007GL030160.

  • Donelan, M. A., Hamilton J. , and Hui W. H. , 1985: Directional spectra of wind-generated waves. Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London,315A, 509562, doi:10.1098/rsta.1985.0054.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Fairall, C. W., Bradley E. F. , Hare J. E. , Grachev A. A. , and Edson J. B. , 2003: Bulk parameterization of air–sea fluxes: Updates and verification for the COARE algorithm. J. Climate, 16, 571591, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016<0571:BPOASF>2.0.CO;2.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Falkowski, P., and Kiefer D. A. , 1985: Chlorophyll a fluorescence in phytoplankton: Relationship to photosynthesis and biomass. J. Plankton Res., 7, 715731, doi:10.1093/plankt/7.5.715.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Harcourt, R. R., and D’Asaro E. A. , 2008: Large-eddy simulation of Langmuir turbulence in pure wind seas. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38, 15421562, doi:10.1175/2007JPO3842.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Herbers, T. H. C., Jessen P. F. , Janssen T. T. , Colbert D. B. , and MacMahan J. H. , 2012: Observing ocean surface waves with GPS-tracked buoys. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 29, 944959, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-11-00128.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hung, C.-C., and Gong G. C. , 2011: Biogeochemical responses in the southern East China Sea after typhoons. Oceanography, 24, 4251, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2011.93.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hung, C.-C., and Coauthors, 2010: The effect of typhoon on particulate organic carbon flux in the southern East China Sea. Biogeosciences, 7, 30073018, doi:10.5194/bg-7-3007-2010.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kenyon, K. E., 1969: Stokes drift for random gravity waves. J. Geophys. Res., 74, 69916994, doi:10.1029/JC074i028p06991.

  • Knaff, J. A., DeMaria M. , Molenar D. A. , Sampson C. R. , and Seybold M. G. , 2011: An automated, objective, multiple-satellite-platform tropical cyclone surface wind analysis. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 50, 21492166, doi:10.1175/2011JAMC2673.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Knaff, J. A., DeMaria M. , Sampson C. R. , Peak J. E. , Cummings J. , and Schubert W. H. , 2013: Upper oceanic energy response to tropical cyclone passage. J. Climate, 26, 26312650, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00038.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lamarre, E., and Melville W. K. , 1991: Air entrainment and dissipation in breaking waves. Nature, 351, 469472, doi:10.1038/351469a0.

  • Long, R. B., 1980: The statistical evaluation of directional spectrum estimates derived from pitch-roll buoy data. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 10, 944952, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1980)010<0944:TSEODS>2.0.CO;2.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • McWilliams, J. C., Sullivan P. P. , and Moeng C. H. , 1997: Langmuir turbulence in the ocean. J. Fluid Mech., 334, 130, doi:10.1017/S0022112096004375.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • McWilliams, J. C., Restrepo J. M. , and Lane E. M. , 2004: An asymptotic theory for the interaction of waves and currents in coastal waters. J. Fluid Mech., 511, 135178, doi:10.1017/S0022112004009358.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Melville, W. K., 1996: The role of surface-wave breaking in air-sea interaction. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 28, 279, doi:10.1146/annurev.fl.28.010196.001431.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Moon, I. J., Ginis I. , Hara T. , Tolman H. L. , Wright C. W. , and Walsh E. J. , 2003: Numerical simulation of sea surface directional wave spectra under hurricane wind forcing. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 33, 16801706, doi:10.1175/2410.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mrvaljevic, R. K., and Coauthors, 2013: Observations of the cold wake of Typhoon Fanapi (2010). Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 316321, doi:10.1029/2012GL054282

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Omand, M. M., Feddersen F. , Clark D. B. , Franks P. J. S. , Leichter J. J. , and Guza R. T. , 2009: Influence of bubbles and sand on chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements in the surfzone. Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 7, 354362, doi:10.4319/lom.2009.7.354.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Powell, M. D., Vickery P. J. , and Reinhold T. A. , 2003: Reduced drag coefficient for high wind speeds in tropical cyclones. Nature, 422, 279283, doi:10.1038/nature01481.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Price, J. F., 1981: Upper ocean response to a hurricane. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 11, 153175, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1981)011<0153:UORTAH>2.0.CO;2.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sampson, C. R., Wittmann P. A. , and Tolman H. L. , 2010: Consistent tropical cyclone wind and wave forecasts for the U.S. Navy. Wea. Forecasting, 25, 12931306, doi:10.1175/2010WAF2222376.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sampson, C. R., Wittmann P. A. , Serra E. A. , Tolman H. L. , Schauer J. , and Marchok T. , 2013: Evaluation of wave forecasts consistent with tropical cyclone warning center wind forecasts. Wea. Forecasting, 28, 287294, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-12-00060.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sanford, T. B., Price J. F. , Girton J. B. , and Webb D. C. , 2007: Highly resolved observations and simulations of the ocean response to a hurricane. Geophys. Res. Lett.,34, L13604, doi:10.1029/2007GL029679.

  • Sanford, T. B., Kelly K. A. , and Farmer D. M. , 2011a: Sensing the ocean. Phys. Today, 64, 2428, doi:10.1063/1.3554313.

  • Sanford, T. B., Price J. F. , and Girton J. B. , 2011b: Upper-ocean response to Hurricane Frances (2004) observed by profiling EM-APEX floats. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 41, 10411056, doi:10.1175/2010JPO4313.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sullivan, P. P., and McWilliams J. C. , 2010: Dynamics of winds and currents coupled to surface waves. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 42, 1942, doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-121108-145541.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sullivan, P. P., McWilliams J. C. , and Melville W. K. , 2007: Surface gravity wave effects in the oceanic boundary layer: Large-eddy simulation with vortex force and stochastic breakers. J. Fluid Mech., 593, 405452, doi:10.1017/S002211200700897X.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sullivan, P. P., Romero L. , McWilliams J. C. , and Melville W. K. , 2012: Transient evolution of Langmuir turbulence in ocean boundary layers driven by hurricane winds and waves. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 42, 19591980, doi:10.1175/JPO-D-12-025.1.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Terrill, E. J., Melville W. K. , and Stramski D. , 2001: Bubble entrainment by breaking waves and their influence on optical scattering in the upper ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 16 81516 823, doi:10.1029/2000JC000496.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Toffoli, A., McConochie J. , Ghantous M. , Loffredo L. , and Babanin A. V. , 2012: The effect of wave-induced turbulence on the ocean mixed layer during tropical cyclones: Field observations on the Australian North-West Shelf. J. Geophys. Res.,117, C00J24, doi:10.1029/2011JC007780.

  • Van Roekel, L. P., Fox-Kemper B. , Sullivan P. P. , Hamlington P. E. , and Haney S. R. , 2012: The form and orientation of Langmuir cells for misaligned winds and waves. J. Geophys. Res.,117, C05001, doi:10.1029/2011JC007516.

  • Wallace, D. W. R., and Wirick C. D. , 1992: Large air–sea gas fluxes associated with breaking waves. Nature, 356, 694696, doi:10.1038/356694a0.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Walsh, E. J., Hancock D. W. , Hines D. E. , Swift R. N. , and Scott J. F., 1985: Directional wave spectra measured with the surface contour radar. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 15, 566592, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1985)015<0566:DWSMWT>2.0.CO;2.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Webb, A., and Fox-Kemper B. , 2011: Wave spectral moments and Stokes drift estimation. Ocean Modell., 40, 273288, doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2011.08.007.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Young, I. R., 2003: A review of the sea state generated by hurricanes. Mar. Struct., 16, 201218, doi:10.1016/S0951-8339(02)00054-0.

  • Young, I. R., 2006: Directional spectra of hurricane wind waves. J. Geophys. Res.,111, C08020, doi:10.1029/2006JC003540.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 695 252 38
PDF Downloads 448 177 35