Record Details

Tropical data assimilation experiments with simulated data: The impact of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Thermal Array for the Ocean

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Tropical data assimilation experiments with simulated data: The impact of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Thermal Array for the Ocean
Names Miller, Robert N. (creator)
Date Issued 1990-07-15 (iso8601)
Note Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union.
Abstract A series of observing system simulation experiments (OSSE) is performed on a simulated data
set which was designed to mimic the wind-forced response of the tropical Pacific ocean. This
data set was constructed by adding random perturbations to the FSU monthly mean pseudostress
anomaly data. These perturbed pseudostress anomaly fields were used to drive a simple linear
model whose output was sampled to form synthetic observations. The statistics of the perturbations
are given by estimates of the errors in the pseudostress data calculated in an earlier study.
OSSE are performed using simulated sea level height data from island tide gauge stations and
from selected TOGA-TAO (Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Thermal Array for the Ocean)
mooring sites. Data from the TOGA-TAO moorings are assumed, in one experiment, to consist
of sea level height data, identical to that from tide gauges. In a further experiment, mooring data
consist of amplitudes of the first two vertical modes. Errors in the OSSE are seen to be comparable
to errors obtained in comparison to real data where such comparisons are available. Assimilation
of data at six island stations results in noticeable, but not dramatic improvement in the analysis,
as was noted in an earlier study with actual observations. OSSE using simulated mooring data
showed accuracy in the sea level height field comparable to that of the instruments across much
of the basin. Inclusion of the separate baroclinic modes resulted in negligible improvement. Simulated
fields of 20° isotherm depth anomaly were also produced. Results were similar to the sea
level height results. As in the simulation of sea level height, inclusion of the separate baroclinic
modes resulted in negligible improvement.
Genre Article
Identifier Miller, R. (1990), Tropical data assimilation experiments with simulated data: The impact of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Thermal Array for the Ocean, J. Geophys. Res., 95(C7), 11461-11482, doi:10.1029/JC095iC07p11461.

© Western Waters Digital Library - GWLA member projects - Designed by the J. Willard Marriott Library - Hosted by Oregon State University Libraries and Press