www.ecco-group.org/abstracts/woce_abstract_5.txt

The ECCO 1 degree global WOCE Synthesis: Estimates of Surface Fluxes

D. Stammer, K. Uejoshi, W. Large and C. Wunsch for the ECCO Consortium.

Surface fluxes of stress, heat and moisture are included in the control
vectors of the ECCO global ocean state estimate. As such, the prior
values (from NCEP)  are adjusted, along with other control variables,
to bring the model into better agreement with the WOCE observations.

Here we test the adjusted estimates against independent ones derived
from bulk formula and satellite observations. All ECCO adjustments
are within the crude prior error bars prescribed for these fields.
On the large scale, adjustments  are therefore consistent with known 
deficiencies in the NCEP products.  On the large scales, the inferred 
adjustments to NCEP winds are consistent also with values obtained from 
satellite wind measurements.  However, on regional scale wind adjustments
exhibit features that reflect ocean model inability to resolve intense 
boundary currents. Further improvements in the surface flux estimates 
obtained using data assimilation are anticipated as the estimation 
procedure becomes more complete, and the ocean model more accurate.


1	heimbach	1.1	The ECCO 1 degree global WOCE Synthesis: Estimates of Surface Fluxes
2
3			D. Stammer, K. Uejoshi, W. Large and C. Wunsch for the ECCO Consortium.
4
5			Surface fluxes of stress, heat and moisture are included in the control
6			vectors of the ECCO global ocean state estimate. As such, the prior
7			values (from NCEP) are adjusted, along with other control variables,
8			to bring the model into better agreement with the WOCE observations.
9
10			Here we test the adjusted estimates against independent ones derived
11			from bulk formula and satellite observations. All ECCO adjustments
12			are within the crude prior error bars prescribed for these fields.
13			On the large scale, adjustments are therefore consistent with known
14			deficiencies in the NCEP products. On the large scales, the inferred
15			adjustments to NCEP winds are consistent also with values obtained from
16			satellite wind measurements. However, on regional scale wind adjustments
17			exhibit features that reflect ocean model inability to resolve intense
18			boundary currents. Further improvements in the surface flux estimates
19			obtained using data assimilation are anticipated as the estimation
20			procedure becomes more complete, and the ocean model more accurate.
21
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