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Poleward propagating subinertial alongshore surface currents off the U.S. West Coast
Author(s) -
Kim Sung Yong,
Cornuelle Bruce D.,
Terrill Eric J.,
Jones Burt,
Washburn Libe,
Moline Mark A.,
Paduan Jeffrey D.,
Garfield Newell,
Largier John L.,
Crawford Greg,
Michael Kosro P.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1002/jgrc.20400
Subject(s) - geology , advection , bathymetry , front (military) , buoy , storm , mode (computer interface) , climatology , oceanography , phase (matter) , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , thermodynamics , operating system
The network comprising 61 high‐frequency radar systems along the U.S. West Coast (USWC) provides a unique, high resolution, and broad scale view of ocean surface circulation. Subinertial alongshore surface currents show poleward propagating signals with phase speeds of O (10) and O (100–300)km d − 1that are consistent with historical in situ observations off the USWC and that can be possibly interpreted as coastally trapped waves (CTWs). The propagating signals in the slow mode are partly observed in southern California, which may result from scattering and reflection of higher‐mode CTWs due to curvature of shoreline and bathymetry near Point Conception, California. On the other hand, considering the order of the phase speed in the slow mode, the poleward propagating signals may be attributed to alongshore advection or pressure‐driven flows. A statistical regression of coastal winds at National Data Buoy Center buoys on the observed surface currents partitions locally and remotely wind‐forced components, isolates footprints of the equatorward propagating storm events in winter off the USWC, and shows the poleward propagating signals year round.