Empirical orthogonal function analysis of sea surface temperature patterns in Delaware Bay
- Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) are used to study a time-series of IR images from the Delaware Bay region, to determine the dominant patterns of sea surface temperature (SST) variance. Thirty-two months of AVHRR imagery, from February 1992 to September 1994, were used in the study. The SST images were averaged into monthly means for the analysis. EOF analysis decomposed the time series into its component parts. For Delaware Bay, the seasonal solar heating cycle dominated the results, accounting for 95.3% of the total variance. Higher modes in this area are interpreted as the result of spring heating and fall cooling of shallow river and bay waters ahead of offshore waters. The EOF results provide independent satellite derived evidence for lateral variability in the circulation of the estuary, which had previously been found in in-situ studies. The lateral variability in the bay circulation is a result of Delaware Bay`s drowned river valley bathymetry.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC (United States); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 544117
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 35; ISSN IGRSD2; ISSN 0196-2892
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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