Observing System Simulation Experiments and Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis: Methods for Observational Programs in the Arctic Ocean

Authors

  • Oceana Francis University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822
  • Gleb Panteleev Naval Research Laboratory Stennis Space Center Mississippi 39529 USA
  • Max Yaremchuk Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS 39522
  • Vladimir Luchin Pacific Oceanographic Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Russia
  • Jacob Stroh International Arctic Research Center, Fairbanks, AK, 99775
  • Pamela Posey Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS 39522
  • David Hebert Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS 39522

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4603

Keywords:

Arctic Ocean, optimization observational programs, adjoint sensitivity analysis, observing system simulation experiments

Abstract

Over recent decades, the Arctic Ocean (AO) has experienced profound climate changes. To study these climate changes, several regional observational programs have been started. Because of complicated logistics and remoteness, in situ observations in the AO are extremely expensive. Therefore, an efficient ocean observational system in the AO is critical to understand environmental changes in the Arctic. Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) and Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis (ASA) are powerful tools that could be used in the optimization of existing and incoming observational programs in the AO. These optimal planning tools recommended by the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) implementation plan, and widely used in atmospheric research, are still rarely implemented in physical and biological oceanography. We provide several examples of how the OSSE and ASA can be used to optimize the locations of high frequency radars and biological tracer surveys and leveraged toward creating an inexpensive drifter observational program capable of providing sufficient information to reconstruct the circulation in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and southern Beaufort Seas.

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Published

2018-05-10