Global surface currents are usually inferred from directly observed quantities like sea-surface height, wind stress by applying diagnostic balance relations (like geostrophy and Ekman flow), which provide a good approximation of the dynamics slow, large-scale at large scales low Rossby numbers. However, newer generation satellite altimeters upcoming SWOT mission) will capture more high wavenumb...

A new model of surface drift currents is constructed using the full nonlinear equations of motion. This model includes the balance between Coriolis forces due to the mean and wave-induced motions and the surface wind stresses. The approach used in the analysis is similar to the work by Craik & Leibovich (1976) and Leibovich (1977), but the emphasis is on the mean motion rather than the small-sc...

A methodology is demonstrated to exploit the polarization sensitivity of high-resolution radar measurements to interpret and quantify upper ocean dynamics. This study particularly illustrates the potential of quad-polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements. The analysis relies on essential characteristics of the electromagnetic scattering mechanisms and hydrodynamical principles. ...

Management and conservation can be greatly informed by considering explicitly how environmental factors influence population genetic structure. Using simulated larval dispersal estimates based on ocean current observations, we demonstrate how explicit consideration of frequency of exchange of larvae among sites via ocean advection can fundamentally change the interpretation of empirical populat...

We investigate the potential of strategic ship routing through dynamic currents derived from satellite altimetry by simulating current patterns in a dynamic Gulf Stream region to reflect present and improved current estimation capabilities, using dynamic programming to determine approximately 3-day routes through the current patterns, and estimating relative fuel savings that would be obtained ...

Observed upper ocean currents south of Sri Lanka exhibit large, irregular fluctuations with periods of days to weeks. An ocean model driven by daily surface winds is able to reproduce the observed fluctuations. We find from model experiments that low frequency (30-50 day) intraseasonal variability (ISV) arises when Rossby waves radiated from the eastern boundary are amplified by hydrodynamic in...

Predictability of atmospheric variability is known to be limited owing to significant uncertainty that arises from intrinsic variability generated independently of external forcing and/or boundary conditions. Observed atmospheric variability is therefore regarded as just a single realization among different dynamical states that could occur. In contrast, subject to wind, thermal and fresh-water...