Multiple westward propagating signals in South Pacific sea level anomalies

Maharaj, Angela; Holbrook, Neil; Cipollini, Paolo. 2009 Multiple westward propagating signals in South Pacific sea level anomalies. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114. C12016. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004799

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Abstract/Summary

The characteristics of multiple westward propagating signals in the satellite observed South Pacific sea level anomalies (SLA) between 10°S and 50°S are analyzed using the two-dimensional Radon transform (2D-RT). We test the hypothesis that these signals are most likely to be the signature of the first few baroclinic Rossby wave modes. This involves a comparison of the estimated phase speeds of the 2D-RT peaks against the first four baroclinic mode Rossby wave speeds predicted from the extended theory. The 2D-RT analysis typically identified up to three propagating signals in the SLA and very occasionally, a fourth. The first Radon transform (RT) peak phase speeds corresponded very well with first baroclinic mode Rossby wave phase speed estimates from linear theory between 15°S and 25°S and the extended theory phase speed estimates poleward of 25°S. RT peak 2 speeds were less coherent but fell within the range of extended theory estimates of the first four baroclinic Rossby wave modes, consistent with large-scale Rossby wave dynamics. The relationship between peaks 3 and 4 and the extended theory higher-order baroclinic mode speed estimates varied markedly across the basin. Regional variability in the spectral characteristics of the peaks suggests that different dynamical regimes dominate north and south of 30°S in the South Pacific basin. The presence of secondary peaks in the middle to high latitudes suggests that higher-order modes may play a role in these regions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004799
ISSN:	01480227
Date made live:	09 Feb 2010 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/172374

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