Measuring Mesoscale Mixing: Developing New Spatial Statistics to Analyze Ocean Observations

中尺度海洋动力学在地球系统中起着至关重要的作用，它在海洋中移动和混合特性，并为海洋的大尺度热力学提供必要的反馈机制。该项目将（1）使用一系列数值模型来量化这些新的统计数据在不同流态和与观测平台一致的采样模式下的好处，（2）开发新的结构函数（取决于数据的空间差异和互相关的统计数据），这些统计数据提高了中尺度通量测量的准确性，并在模式中对其进行评估，以及（3）将这些统计数据应用于一系列观测，以探索它们对中尺度通量的额外见解。该项目将提供前所未有的中尺度海洋通量量化，并为科学家提供分析未来数据集的最佳工具。这些观测结果将使我们了解通过地球系统的能量路径，并将有助于评估概念和数值模式的保真度及其预报能力的准确性，该项目将使用一系列结构函数来更准确地量化中尺度海洋能量通量、涡度拟能和其他动力特性。它产生了分析未来数据集的最佳工具。这些目标将通过三个并行的研究线程来实现。首先，一系列的数值模型将模拟各种动力学制度，以确定和比较不同的结构功能的效用，以评估完整的模型字段和模拟观测范围的测量平台。这些模型从理想化的二维动力学到原始方程模型，包括海洋-大气耦合和中尺度以外的动力学效应。他们的层次结构将诊断的条件下，不同的结构功能可以量化中尺度通量，和结构功能的限制，导致采样或测量偏差，或从多尺度的物理过程。第二，将开发新的结构功能，这些功能是专门为最大限度地利用来自模型和具体海洋数据收集方法的信息而设计的。随着它们的发展，这些新的结构函数将被包括在我们的数值模型分析中。最后，数值模式分析的结果将指导诊断的中尺度通量从观测数据集，通过应用适当的结构功能，这些datasets.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Mesoscale ocean dynamics play a critical role in the Earth system by moving and mixing properties within the ocean and providing essential feedback mechanisms for the ocean's large-scale thermodynamics. This project will (1) use a hierarchy of numerical models to quantify the benefits of these novel statistics under different flow regimes and under sampling patterns consistent with observational platforms, (2) develop new structure functions (statistics that depend on spatial differences and cross-correlations of data) which increase the accuracy of mesoscale flux measurements and assess them in models, and (3) apply these statistics to a range of observations to explore their additional insights into mesoscale fluxes. This project will provide unprecedented quantification of mesoscale ocean fluxes and prepare scientists with the optimal tools to analyze future data sets. These observations will inform us about the energy pathways through the Earth system and will aid the evaluation of the fidelity of conceptual and numerical models, and the accuracy of their forecast capabilities.This project will use an array of structure functions to more accurately quantify mesoscale ocean fluxes of energy, enstrophy, and other dynamic properties. It result in optimal tools to analyze future data sets. These goals will be achieved through three concurrent research threads. First, a range of numerical models will simulate various dynamical regimes to identify and compare the utility of different structure functions for assessing both the full model fields and emulated observations from a range of measurement platforms. These models span from idealized two-dimensional dynamics to primitive equation models that include ocean-atmosphere coupling and the effects of dynamics outside of the mesoscale. Their hierarchy will diagnose the conditions under which different structure functions can quantify mesoscale fluxes, and the limitations of structure functions that result from sampling or measurement biases, or from multi-scale physical processes. Second, new structure functions will be developed which are tailored to maximize information from models and specific ocean data collection methods. As they are developed, these new structure functions will be included in our analysis of numerical models. Finally, the results of the numerical model analysis will guide a diagnosis of mesoscale fluxes from observational data sets by applying appropriate structure functions to these data sets.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.