Predicting ocean density profiles using satellite platforms

Matthew J Oliver, University of Delaware, moliver@udel.edu (Presenter)
Matthew D Grossi, University of Delaware, mgrossi@udel.edu
Erick F Geiger, University of Delaware, egeiger@udel.edu (Presenter)
Andrew Irwin, Mount Allison University, airwin@mta.ca
Fabrice Veron, University of Delaware, fveron@udel.edu

The variability of ocean density vertical structure is a function of atmospherically driven mixing, heat fluxes, and fresh water inputs. Many of the environmental drivers that either influence (e.g., wind) or are influenced by (e.g., phytoplankton) vertical density structure are observable from satellite platforms. In this study, we merge over 250,000 density profiles from the Argo program with satellite data streams to predict the vertical density profiles in the ocean from remote platforms. Tuning individual density models to known ocean provinces significantly reduced errors in these predictions. The province-based median RMS error for density prediction was 0.33 kg m-3, which is 67% lower than a null model for the upper 500m of the water column. A time series analysis from 2002-2009 shows that the vertical density structure in open ocean deserts has changed in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Water column stability has increased in Northern and Southern Hemisphere deserts, but only significantly in the Southern Hemisphere. This trend may explain observations of lower chlorophyll concentrations in Southern Hemisphere ocean gyres.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Global Change Impact & Vulnerability   (Tue 11:30 AM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Oliver, Matt: 3-D Mapping of Ocean Water Masses and Biomes ...details

Poster Location ID: 269