Hite, M., Bourassa, M. A., & O'Brien, J. J. (2006). Objective detection of Atlantic tropical disturbances. In 14th Conference on Interactions of the Sea and Atmosphere, AMS, Monterey, CA, USA (cdrom).
Hite, M. M., Bourassa, M. A., & O'Brien, J. J. (2006). Vorticity-Based Detection Of Tropical Cyclones. In 14th Conference on Interactions of the Sea and Atmosphere, American Meteorological Society, Atlanta, Ga, USA (cdrom).
Hughes, P. J. (2006). North Atlantic Decadal Variability of Ocean Surface Fluxes . Master's thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
Abstract: The spatial and temporal variability of the surface turbulent heat fluxes over the North Atlantic is examined using the new objectively produced FSU3 monthly mean 1°x1° gridded wind and surface flux product for 1978-2003. The FSU3 product is constructed from in situ ship and buoy observations via a variational technique. A cost function based on weighted constraints is minimized in the process of determining the surface fluxes. The analysis focuses on a low frequency (basin wide) mode of variability where the latent and sensible heat flux anomalies transition from mainly positive to negative values around 1998. It is hypothesized that the longer time scale variability is linked to changes in the large scale circulation patterns possibly associated with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO; Schlesinger and Ramankutty 1994, Kerr 2000). The changes in the surface heat fluxes are forced by fluctuations in the mean wind speed. Zonal averages show a clear dissimilarity between the turbulent heat fluxes and wind speed for 1982-1997 and 1998-2003 over the region extending from the equator to roughly 40°N. Larger values are associated with the earlier time period, coinciding with a cool phase of the AMO. The separation between the two time periods is much less evident for the humidity and air/sea temperature differences. The largest differences in the latent heat fluxes, between the two time periods, occur over the tropical, Gulf Stream, and higher latitude regions of the North Atlantic, with magnitudes exceeding 15 Wm-2. The largest sensible heat flux differences are limited to areas along the New England coast and poleward of 40°N.
Hughes, P. J., Bourassa, M. A., Rolph, J., & Smith, S. R. (2006). Interdecadal Variability of Surface Heat Fluxes Over the Atlantic Ocean (J. Cote, Ed.). CAS/JSC Working Group on Numerical Experimentation, Research Activities in Atmospheric and Oceanic Modeling. World Meteorological Organization.
Jones, B. (2004). Influence of Panamanian Wind Jets on the Southeast Intertropical Convergence Zone . Master's thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
Abstract: Gridded QuikSCAT data has been used to show that a strong confluence zone of the Southeast Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (SITCZ) existed in 2000 � 2002 during boreal spring, and the Panama wind jet contributes to its variability. Time series analysis of winds off the Gulf of Panama and convergence advection into the Southern Hemisphere (from 80W to 95W) show these winds kept the SE Trades out of the Northern Hemisphere and created a confluent zone in the Southern Hemisphere. A monthly averaged SITCZ is maintained by the deceleration of the SE Trades that flow from warm water toward the equatorial cold tongue, creating a speed convergent zone south of the equator. Images of wind trajectories show zonally orientated SE Trade winds that were deflected from a divergent zone parallel to the coast of South America converge with more meridional Trades over warm waters. Panamanian winds crossed into the Southern Hemisphere to contribute to this convergence. It is hypothesized that this confluent zone can be intensified by the Panamanian winds. In 2002, the SITCZ confluent zone occurred with more intense Panamanian gap flow than the previous two years. Cross equatorial SE Trades wrapped anti-cyclonically around a divergent pocket in the Northern Hemisphere and became southward winds, which allowed the Panamanian winds to enter the Southern Hemisphere and intensify the SITCZ. Variability in the Panamanian winds makes a substantial contribution to the evolution of the SITCZ.
Kara, A. B., Hurlburt, H. E., Wallcraft, A. J., & Bourassa, M. A. (2005). Black Sea Mixed Layer Sensitivity to Various Wind and Thermal Forcing Products on Climatological Time Scales. J. Climate , 18 (24), 5266–5293.
Kara, A. B., Metzger, E. J., & Bourassa, M. A. (2007). Ocean current and wave effects on wind stress drag coefficient over the global ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett. , 34 (1).
Kara, A. B., Wallcraft, A. J., Barron, C. N., Hurlburt, H. E., & Bourassa, M. A. (2008). Accuracy of 10 m winds from satellites and NWP products near land-sea boundaries. J. Geophys. Res. , 113 (C10).
Kennedy, A. J., Griffin, M. L., Morey, S. L., Smith, S. R., & O'Brien, J. J. (2007). Effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation on sea level anomalies along the Gulf of Mexico coast. J. Geophys. Res. , 112 (C5).
Lombardi, K. C. (2004). Resolving the Diurnal and Synoptic Variance of Scatterometer Vector Wind Observations . Master's thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
Abstract: Scatterometer observations of vector winds are used to examine the amplitudes of synoptic and diurnal cycles. Scatterometers have the advantage of providing global coverage over water; however, irregular temporal sampling complicates the analyses. A least squares technique is used in determination of the amplitudes and phases of the diurnal and synoptic cycles on spatial scales of 5°, 15°, and 30°. In open ocean areas and regions with sufficient open water, the magnitudes of the diurnal and synoptic cycles are 1.0 ms-1 and 3.5ms-1, respectively. Diurnal amplitudes are highest in the polar regions and close to land surfaces due to sea breeze effects. The fraction of variance explained by the diurnal cycle is greatest near the equator. Synoptic amplitudes are consistently larger downwind of land from storm tracks and in the southern polar region as the time analyzed is during the southern winter season.
