Physics
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011georl..3810606g&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 38, Issue 10, CiteID L10606
Physics
3
Oceanography: General: Ocean Observing Systems, Oceanography: Physical: Currents
Scientific paper
The Global Drifter Program (GDP) has been measuring near-surface ocean currents with surface drifters since 1979. At least half of the World Ocean now has drifter velocity time series longer than 15 years. The availability of this data opens new opportunities to explore observationally how ocean circulation responds to changing surface forcing. In this paper we report evidence of an apparently spurious acceleration of global surface drifter currents. This rapid acceleration occurs in a pattern reflecting the geographic distribution of mean surface winds. For example, in the westerly wind region of the Southern Ocean this strengthening is at least 0.5 cm/s per year eastward, while in the easterly trade wind region of the tropics this strengthening is on average 0.25 cm/s per year westward. One possible explanation we explore is that the bias is due to the presence of some undrogued drifters whose frequency of occurrence changes in time and whose windage is significantly greater than that of the drogued drifters. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Peter Niiler, who first suggested this explanation.
Carton James A.
Grodsky Semyon A.
Lumpkin Rick
No associations
LandOfFree
Spurious trends in global surface drifter currents does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Spurious trends in global surface drifter currents, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spurious trends in global surface drifter currents will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-927467