Subject: powerpoint slides for CLIMODE meeting
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 08:49:57 -0800 (PST)
From: Kathie Kelly <kkelly@apl.washington.edu>
Reply-To: Kathie Kelly <kkelly@apl.washington.edu>
To: tjoyce@whoi.edu

Hi, Terry --

Attached are two Powerpoint slides (one file) for the meeting. I have been comparing the microwave SST and the Jason altimeter data to look for likely EDW formation sites.  Formation and Statistics (pdf only)

Slide 1: SST and sea surface height (SSH) for three different periods to illustrate the complicated types of cooling events near the Gulf Stream.

Top panels show SST at intervals of 6 days with the contours of 18C and 19C overlaid.Bottom panels show change in SST over the 6-day period (left) and change of SSH over a period of 10 days (centered on same time period).

Figures like the first slide, for all available times (Nov-March 2002,2003,2004) can be found on my web site:
http://ultrasat.apl.washington.edu/kkelly/projects/climode/

Slide 2: EDW formation statistics. Number of events in each 1-deg square.
Defining an EDW formation "event" as

  1. d(SST)/dt < 0   (surface cooling)
  2. d(SSH)/dt < 0  (reduction in heat content)
  3. 17.5 < SST < 19 (mean SST in EDW range)
this slide summarizes the number of events for the 3-year period (based on 23 10-day periods for which data are available). Along the mean Gulf Stream path, the most promising region (red circle) is about 60-63W with 3-5 events. There is another promising region to the southeast of this one (dashed circle) with 4 events in each of two 1-deg squares -- probably associated with cold core rings or steep meanders. EDW formation events defined in this way tend to occur in late winter (March).

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Also, please let me know any feedback or requests for more information or statistics. I can provide mean Gulf Stream paths for 2002, 2003, 2004 based on the altimeter, etc.

Thanks,
Kathie


******************************************************
Kathryn A. Kelly
Principal Oceanographer,
Air-sea Interaction and Remote Sensing Department
Applied Physics Laboratory
Affiliate Professor, School of Oceanography
University of Washington

Address:                                   
Applied Physics Laboratory
Box 355640
University of Washington         phone: 206-543-9810
Seattle, WA 98195                FAX:   206-543-6785

email: kkelly@apl.washington.edu
website: http://ultrasat.apl.washington.edu/kkelly