Remote Sensing and Modeling of Coherent Structures

LONG-TERM GOALS The long-term goals of this research are to combine state-of-the-art remote sensing and in situ measurements with advanced numerical modeling (a) to characterize coherent structures in river and estuarine flows and (b) to determine the extent to which their remotely sensed signatures can be used to initialize and guide predictive models. OBJECTIVES Coherent structures are generated by the interaction of the flow with bathymetric and coastline features. These coherent structures produce surface signatures that can be detected and quantified using remote sensing techniques. Furthermore, a number of relationships between coherent structures and flow characteristics have been suggested that have the potential to allow flow parameters (e.g. mean velocity, bottom roughness, shear, and turbidity) to be inferred from remote measurements. The objectives are to test the following four hypotheses: 1. Flow parameters can be inferred from remotely sensed signatures of coherent structures. 2. Numerical models can be constrained with these inferred parameters. 3. The effect of stratification on the strength of coherent structures can be used to detect the presence or absence of stratification and the location of the fresh/salt water interface. 4. Numerical and field experiments can be used together to predict, interpret, characterize, and understand coherent structures.