Research Highlight

Quantification of Oceanic Energy Injection Scales and Elucidation of Primary Drivers Through Submesoscale Observations

Professor Sung Yong Kim and his team reported an injection spatial scale and primary driver in the oceanic submesoscale processes as O(10)-km scale baroclinic instability for the first time ever in the world through the ‘big data’ analysis of O(1) km and hourly surface current and chlorophyll concentration maps, observed by remote sensing instruments of high-frequency radars and geostationary ocean color imagery for at least one year up to five years. This work elucidates the pathways of oceanic energy cascades and will enhance studies of bio-physical interactions and improve the performance of regional and global climate models through realistic parameterization at submesoscale. The scientific outcomes have been published as two companion papers in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, a prestigious, top-shelf journal in earth science and geophysical fluid dynamics....read more