Storm waves focusing and steepening in the Agulhas current: Satellite observations and modeling  id статьи: 451
Тип публикации
статья в журнале
Журнал
Remote Sensing of Environment
ISSN:0034-4257
eSSN:1879-0704
Выходные данные
том
216
выпуск
страницы
561-571
Авторы
Quilfen, Y.1
Chapron, B.2
Ardhuin, F.1
Абстракт
Strong ocean currents can modify the height and shape of ocean waves, possibly causing extreme sea states in particular conditions. The risk of extreme waves is a known hazard in the shipping routes crossing some of the main current
systems. Modeling surface current interactions in standard wave numerical models is an active area of research that benefits from the increased availability and accuracy of satellite observations. We report a typical case of a swell
system propagating in the Agulhas current, using wind and sea state measurements from several satellites, jointly with state of the art analytical and numerical modeling of wave-current interactions. In particular, Synthetic Aperture
Radar and altimeter measurements are used to show the evolution of the swell train and resulting local extreme waves. A ray tracing analysis shows that the significant wave height variability at scales < similar to 100 km is well
associated with the current vorticity patterns. Predictions of the WAVEWATCH III numerical model in a version that accounts for wave-current interactions are consistent with observations, although their effects are still
under-predicted in the present configuration. From altimeter measurements, very large significant wave height gradients are shown to be well captured, and also associated with the current vorticity patterns at global scale.
Ключевые слова
SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR, OCEAN CURRENTS, WIND, REFRACTION, DISSIPATION, VALIDATION, ALTIMETER, SWELL, SEA, TOPEX/POSEIDON
Дата занесения
2018-12-12 15:49:00