A methodology is described for assimilating observations in a steady state twodimensional
horizontal (2‐DH) model of nearshore hydrodynamics (waves and currents),
using an ensemble‐based statistical estimator. In this application, we treat bathymetry as a
model parameter, which is subject to a specified prior uncertainty. The statistical estimator
uses state augmentation...
Eastern boundary current (EBC) upwelling zones are among the most productive of marine ecosystems globally and have been generalized in terms of their food web structure. Little empirically based evidence exists to suggest that there is any one form of trophic control of EBC systems and, because of logistical constraints,...
At the Costa Rica margin along the Middle America Trench along‐strike variations in heat flow are well
mapped. These variations can be understood in terms of either ventilated fluid flow, where exposed basement
allows fluids to freely advect heat between the crustal aquifer and ocean, or insulated fluid flow where...
The thermal structure of convergent margins provides information related to the tectonics, geodynamics,
metamorphism, and fluid flow of active plate boundaries. We report 176 heat flow measurements
made with a violin bow style probe across the Costa Rican margin at the Middle America Trench. The
probe measurements are collocated with...
Internal‐tide generation is usually predicted from local topography, surface tides, and stratification. However, internal tides are often observed to be unrelated to local spring‐neap forcing, appearing intermittently in 3–5 day bursts. Here we suggest a source of this intermittency by illustrating how remotely‐generated shoaling internal tides induce first‐order changes in...
The range of verification problems that can be solved with logic model checking tools has increased significantly in the last few decades. This increase in capability is based on algorithmic advances and new theoretical insights, but it has also benefitted from the steady increase in processing speeds and main memory...
Nitrogen (N) fixation by specialized microorganisms (diazotrophs) influences global plankton productivity because it provides the ocean with most of its bio-available N. However, its global rate and large-scale spatial distribution is still regarded with considerable uncertainty. Here we use a global ocean nitrogen isotope model, in comparison with δ15NO3 observations,...
Current projections of the oceanic response to anthropogenic climate forcings are uncertain. Two key sources of these uncertainties are (1) structural errors in current Earth system models and (2) imperfect knowledge of model parameters. Ocean tracer observations have the potential to reduce these uncertainties. Previous studies typically consider each tracer...
Current projections of the oceanic response to anthropogenic climate forcings are uncertain. Two key sources of these uncertainties are (1) structural errors in current Earth system models and (2) imperfect knowledge of model parameters. Ocean tracer observations have the potential to reduce these uncertainties. Previous studies typically consider each tracer...
Remote sensing offers local, regional and global observations of seasonal snow, providing key information on snowpack processes. This brief review highlights advancements in instrumentation and analysis techniques that have been developed over the past decade. Areas of advancement include improved algorithms for mapping snow-cover extent, snow albedo, snow grain size,...