Respond Projects

Ocean Sciences

Ocean surface characterization using SARAL Altika Data

A regional tidal model is formulated for the Indian coastal domain based on the barotropic mode of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). The simulated tidal levels are used in combination with tide gauge measurements and global tidal solutions based on FES2012 for assessing tidal corrections associated with SARAL-ALTIKA along-track sea level measurements.The POM in its 3D mode is also implemented for simulating seasonal mean flow pattern in the GK and its surrounding coastal ocean. This modeling study is now extended to use SARAL-ALTIKA along track sea level data in order to constrain the simulation for better understanding coastal ocean processes around India

Meso-scale ocean eddy scale analysis

The term Eddy refers to rotational motion of water mass. The eddies with space scales of 50-500 km and time scales of 10-100 days are called meso-scale eddies. They play a significant role in transporting water mass, heat and nutrients. Upwelling areas are associated with cold core eddies, on the other hand downwelling is associated with warm core eddies. An Eddy tracking method using satellite measured Sea Level data has been implemented following Chelton et al., 2011. Using this, identification of the eddy type (Cyclonic or Anti-Cyclonic) and their paths of the movement have been established in the Tropical Indian Ocean. The characterization has been done by computing amplitude of eddies, number of Cyclonic and Anti-Cyclonic eddies formed and Vorticity etc

Ocean wind, wave and current assessment in coastal waters

  1. Satellite Microwave instruments such as Scatterometers, Radiometers and Altimeters provide ocean surface wind, wave and current  measurements which needs to be inter compared especially in the coastal regions.
  2. Geostrophic and Ekman components of the currents can be estimated from altimeter derived SLA and Scatterometer wind data.
  3. Seasonal and interannual variability of satellite derived wind,wave and currents data to understand the major governing processes for their variability.
  4. Interaction of wind-wave-current in the coastal region leads to a complex dynamics which need through investigation for their individual contribution.