Numerical Modeling for Pycnocline Depth Retrieval from SAR Imagery In the Existence of Ocean Internal Waves

摘要

Oceanic pycnocline depth is usually inferred from in situ measurements. This paper attempts to estimate the depth remotely. As ocean internal waves occur on and propagate along oceanic pycnocline. This paper presents a numerical model for retrieving pycnocline depth from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images where internal waves are visible. This numerical model is constructed by combining nonlinear internal wave model and two-layer ocean model. It is also assumed that the observed groups of internal wave packets on SAR imagery are generated by local semidiurnal tides. Case study in East China Sea show a good agreement with in situ CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) data.