Assimilation of drifter observations in primitive equation models of midlatitude ocean circulation

Motivated by increases in the realism of OGCMs and the number of drifting buoys in the ocean observing system, a new Lagrangian assimilation technique is implemented in an idealized, reduced‐gravity configuration of the layered primitive equation model MICOM. Using an extensive set of twin experimen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans 2003-07, Vol.108 (C7), p.3238-n/a
Main Authors: Özgökmen, Tamay M., Molcard, Anne, Chin, Toshio M., Piterbarg, Leonid I., Griffa, Annalisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
data assimilation
drifter assimilation
Instruments and techniques
Lagrangian data assimilation
Marine
Numerical modeling
ocean modeling
Ocean prediction
Oceanography
Physical
Upper ocean processes
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Summary:Motivated by increases in the realism of OGCMs and the number of drifting buoys in the ocean observing system, a new Lagrangian assimilation technique is implemented in an idealized, reduced‐gravity configuration of the layered primitive equation model MICOM. Using an extensive set of twin experiments, the effectiveness of the Lagrangian observation operator and of a dynamical balancing technique for corrected model variables, which is based on geostrophy and mass conservation, are explored in comparison to a conventional Pseudo‐Lagrangian observation operator and an implementation of the Kalman filter method. The results clearly illustrate that the Lagrangian observation operator is superior to the Pseudo‐Lagrangian in the parameter range that is relevant for typical oceanic drifter observations, and that the simple dynamical balancing technique works well for midlatitude ocean circulation.
ISSN:0148-0227
2169-9275
2156-2202
2169-9291
DOI:10.1029/2002JC001719