An international team of oceanographers has presented a new method for analyzing satellite data that allows for the exceptional accuracy of separating powerful ocean currents from wave disturbances. This development has paved the way for a deeper understanding of the global circulation of the World Ocean.
An international team of oceanographers has developed an innovative method for separating powerful ocean currents from wave disturbances with unprecedented accuracy. A new mathematical method based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) has cleaned up the SWOT satellite data and revealed for the first time a clear structure of water movement in the Gulf Stream system. The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
The researchers compare ocean currents to the “arteries and veins of the planet,” transporting heat and shaping climate. However, satellite data is often distorted by gravity waves and eddies, which complicate the accurate measurement of geostrophic flows. Traditional filtering methods proved ineffective, so the scientists applied an improved approach—mrCOSTS, an extended version of DMD.
This algorithm treats satellite images like sequential frames of a film and identifies hidden stable structures. This allowed them to filter out noise and reconstruct an accurate picture of ocean currents, even in the challenging conditions of the Gulf Stream.
“We’ve essentially given satellites smart glasses that can distinguish the deep ocean music from surface noise,” noted study leader Takaya Uchida.
This development has enormous practical significance: it will improve the accuracy of climate models, improve weather forecasts, and make maritime routes safer. The scientists plan to apply the method to other regions of the world’s oceans to better understand global circulation processes and their impact on climate change.
