Xueen Chen

SAR observation and numerical modeling of tidal current wakes at the East China Sea offshore wind farm

A TerraSAR-X (TS-X) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image acquired at the East China Sea offshore wind farm presents distinct wakes at a kilometer scale on the lee of the wind turbines. The presumption was that these wakes were caused by wind movement around turbine blades. However, wind analysis using spaceborne radiometer data, numerical weather prediction, and in situ measurements suggest that the prevailing wind direction did not align with the wakes. By analyzing measurement at the tidal gauge station and modeling of the tidal current field, these trailing wakes are interpreted to have formed when a strong tidal current impinged on the cylindrical monopiles of the wind turbines. A numerical simulation was further conducted to reproduce the tidal current wake under such conditions. Comparison of the simulated surface velocity in the wake region with the TS-X sea surface backscatter intensity shows a similar trend. Consequently, turbulence intensity (T.I.) of the tidal current wakes over multiple piles is studied using the TS-X observation. It is found that the T.I. has a logarithmic relation with distance. Furthermore, another case study showing wakes due to wind movement around turbine blades is presented to discuss the differences in the tidal current wakes and wind turbine wakes. The conclusion is drawn that small-scale wakes formed by interaction of the tidal current and the turbine piles could be also imaged by SAR when certain conditions are satisfied. The study is anticipated to draw more attentions to the impacts of offshore wind foundations on local hydrodynamic field.

Ocean-atmosphere dynamics changes associated with prominent ocean surface turbulent heat fluxes trends during 1958–2013

Three prominent features of ocean surface turbulent heat fluxes (THF) trends during 1958–2013 are identified based on the Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes (OAFlux) data set. The associated ocean-atmosphere dynamics changes are further investigated based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis. First, the THF are enhanced over the mid-latitude expansions of the subtropical western boundary currents (WBCs). An intensified oceanic heat transport, forced by stronger near-surface zonal wind, is likely to be the cause of such THF tendency. Second, the THF are reduced over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, which is primarily caused by the decreasing near-surface wind speed and sea surface temperature (SST), associated with a local coupled ocean-atmosphere cooling mode. Finally, the THF are reduced over the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean, which is attributed to the decreasing air-sea humidity and temperature differences as a result of the convergence of near-surface air and the divergence of ocean currents (upwelling).

Assimilation of surface currents into a regional model over Qingdao coastal waters of China

Surface currents measured by high frequency (HF) radar arrays are assimilated into a regional ocean model over Qingdao coastal waters based on Kalman filter method. A series of numerical experiments are performed to evaluate the performance of the data assimilation schemes. In order to optimize the analysis procedure in the traditional ensemble Kalman filter (ENKF), a different analysis scheme called quasiensemble Kaman filter (QENKF) is proposed. The comparisons between the ENKF and the QENKF suggest that both them can improve the simulated error and the spatial structure. The estimations of the background error covariance (BEC) are also assessed by comparing three different methods: Monte Carlo method; Canadian quick covariance (CQC) method and data uncertainty engine (DUE) method. A significant reduction of the root-mean-square (RMS) errors between model results and the observations shows that the CQC method is able to better reproduce the error statistics for this coastal ocean model and the corresponding external forcing. In addition, the sensibility of the data assimilation system to the ensemble size is also analyzed by means of different scales of the ensemble size used in the experiments. It is found that given the balance of the computational cost and the forecasting accuracy, the ensemble size of 50 will be an appropriate choice in the Qingdao coastal waters.

Variability of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea affected by the Kuroshio and mesoscale eddies

Long-term observations of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea reveal seasonal to interannual variability. During two selected segments of inverted echo sounder observations, tidal forcing in Luzon Strait is almost identical, but the observed amplitudes of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea are very different. The effects of the Kuroshio and mesoscale eddies, reproduced by HYbrid Cooridnate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis simulation, are then investigated. The Kuroshio can enhance the zonal tilt of the thermocline and induce intruding flow in Luzon Strait. During the two selected segments, different thermocline slopes did not significantly change the internal tide generation, but the intruding flow may result in a 11% difference in the amplitude of generated M2 internal tides. During the two selected segments, mesoscale eddies appeared on the path of internal wave propagation, a cold eddy in one case and a warm one in the other. The eddies changed local stratification and induced additional background currents, thus affecting the nonlinear evolution of internal tides. In addition, wave front steering due to the mesoscale eddies dramatically affected the observed amplitude changes of the nonlinear internal waves: the edge, rather than the center, of the nonlinear internal wave front passed through the observational stations, resulting in reduced amplitude in the observations.

ENSO indices and analyses

New ENSO indices were developed and the spatial variability and temporal evolution of ENSO were analyzed based on the new indices and modeling experiments, as well as multiple data resources. The new indices, after being defined, were validated with their good diagnostic characteristics and correlation with wind and SST. In the analysis after the definition and validation of the new indices, ENSO feedbacks from wind, heat fluxes, and precipitation were spatially and temporally examined in order to understand ENSO variability and evolution with some emphasized points such as the interaction among the feedbacks, the role of westerly wind bursts and the transformation between zonal and meridional circulations in an ENSO cycle, and the typical pattern of modern ENSO.

Numerical study on sediment concentration in Yellow river estuary

Sediment transport at the Yellow river delta is affected by many different factors, including tide, waves and river flows. With the change of river exit in 1996, a new delta is rapidly growing which leads to a new sediment transport regime. Most existing computer modelling work at the site is yet to take such changes into account. In addition, the wave action at the river mouth is often ignored in the past and only tidal influences were considered. The current study focuses on the new hydrodynamics regime due to combined waves and tides, and the resultant sediment transport pattern in order to reveal the possible impacts from the shift of the river exit. A 3D near shore morphodynamic model has been applied to the region in combination with large regional oceanographic model of FVCOM and SWAN. Model results indicate the fine sediment was transported by the river flow into the sea and then tidal currents dominant its course. The combined waves and tidal currents seems produce strong northern sediment transport at the old river mouth which also interacts with the fine sediment from the new exit.