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Propagation characteristics of extratropical planetary waves observed in the ATSR global sea surface temperature record

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TLDR
In this paper, the authors examined the characteristics of planetary wave signatures that have been found in the Along Track Scanning Radiometer averaged sea surface temperature (ASST) record for 1991-1996.
Abstract
This paper examines the characteristics of planetary wave signatures that have been found in the Along Track Scanning Radiometer averaged sea surface temperature (ASST) record for 1991–1996. Longitude-time plots for every latitude between 5° and 50°, north and south, reveal westward propagating wave-like patterns at many locations, whose speed decreases with latitude like baroclinic Rossby waves. A two-dimensional Radon transform method is used to measure the wave speed and its variation with location and time, which broadly matches the Rossby wave speeds predicted by the most recent theory and those measured by TOPEX altimetry, although there are some discrepancies. At low latitudes the thermally detected speeds are slower than expected, a possible consequence of sampling limitations. Wave signatures are clearest between 25° and 40°S, where the meridional temperature gradient is strongest. Here observed speeds are 20–30% greater than theoretical predictions. Planetary wave speed varies considerably with longitude. In general, it increases toward the west of ocean basins, and distinct differences between ocean basins are evident. The propagation characteristics of the waves appear to change abruptly at locations consistent with latitudinal variations in seafloor bathymetry, particularly midocean ridges. In addition, eastward propagating signatures are found in the Southern Ocean. The results demonstrate the value of the ASST data set as a tool for studying basin-scale wave processes as a complement to the use of altimetry. By observing the thermal signature of Rossby waves the method has the potential to clarify their influence on air-sea interaction processes and to contribute to climate modeling studies.

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A complete processing chain for ship detection using optical satellite imagery

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Rossby waves detected in global ocean colour data

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Equatorially dominated magnetic field change at the surface of Earth's core.

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Tropical Atlantic Variability Modes (1979-2002). Part I: Time-Evolving SST Modes Related to West African Rainfall

TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented a description of the 1979-2002 tropical Atlantic SST variability modes coupled to the anomalous West African (WA) rainfall during the monsoon season.
Journal ArticleDOI

Use of the 3D Radon Transform to Examine the Properties of Oceanic Rossby Waves

TL;DR: In this paper, the two-dimensional Radon Transform can be generalized to three dimensions, enabling not only the true propagation velocity component, but also the direction of the waves and thus any deviation from the pure-westward case.
References
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Book

Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

A.E. Gill
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe how the Ocean-Atmosphere system is driven by transfer of properties between the atmosphere and the ocean. But they do not consider the effects of side boundaries.
Book

The Radon Transform and Some of Its Applications

TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide basic information about the properties of radon transform and provide guidance to literature related to transform, and are aimed at those with a basic undergraduate background in mathematics.
Journal ArticleDOI

Geographical Variability of the First Baroclinic Rossby Radius of Deformation

TL;DR: In this paper, the first baroclinic gravity-wave phase speed c1 and the Rossby radius of deformation l1 are computed from climatological average temperature and salinity profiles.
Book

Waves in the ocean

TL;DR: In this article, the generation and dissipation of wave-current interactions were studied. But the authors focused on the critical layer absorption and stability of parallel flows. And they used statistical and probabilistic methods.
Journal ArticleDOI

Global Observations of Oceanic Rossby Waves

TL;DR: The TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter has detected Rossby waves throughout much of the world ocean from sea level signals with ≲10-centimeter amplitude and ≳500-kilometer wavelength.
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