HR: 1400h
AN: OS23E-09    [Abstracts]
TI: Title Satellite measurements reveal lower oceanic wind power input
AU: * Xu, Y
EM: yongsheng@utig.ig.utexas.edu
AF: Institute for Geophysics The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg. 196 (ROC) , Austin, TX 78758, United States
AU: Scott, R
EM: rscott@utig.ig.utexas.edu
AF: Institute for Geophysics The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg. 196 (ROC) , Austin, TX 78758, United States
AB: Surface winds working on the oceanic general circulation are traditional regarded, along with tides, as the largest mechanical energy source driving the mixing of density that maintains the thermohaline circulation, and therefore regulating climate change. The wind power input to on the oceanic general circulation is estimated based on state-of-the-art satellite measurements of wind stress by the QuikSCAT radar scatterometer and surface ocean currents by multiple altimeter satellites and a gravity satellite. It suggests that previous estimates of the wind power input are too large by close to 50%. These measurements challenge the traditional view of the role of the winds in regulating the thermohaline circulation and climate, suggesting either a remarkably larger amount of energy input from other sources, or the need for revised estimates of the density mixing rate.
DE: 1640 Remote sensing (1855)
DE: 4260 Ocean data assimilation and reanalysis (3225)
DE: 4262 Ocean observing systems
DE: 4568 Turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes (4490)
DE: 9900 CORRECTIONS
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly