S-MODE: The Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment

Authors

J. Thomas Farrar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Eric D'Asaro, University of Washington
Ernesto Rodriguez, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Andrey Shcherbina, University of Washington
Erin Czech, NASA Ames Research Center
Paul Matthias, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Sommer Nicholas, NASA Ames Research Center
Frederick Bingham, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Amala Mahedevan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Melissa Omand, University of Rhode Island
Luc Rainville, University of Washington
Craig Lee, University of Washington
Dudley Chelton, Oregon State University
Roger Samelson, Oregon State University
Larry O'Neill, Oregon State University
Luc Lenain, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Dimitris Menemenlis, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dragana Perkovic-Martin, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pantazis Mouroulis, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michelle Gierach, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
David Thompson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Alexander Wineteer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Hector Torres, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Patrice Klein, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Andrew Thompson, California Institute of Technology
James C. McWilliams, University of California, Los Angeles
Jeroen Molemaker, University of California, Los Angeles
Roy Barkan, University of California, Los Angeles
Jacob Wenegrat, University of Maryland, College Park

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Date of Original Version

9-26-2020

Abstract

The Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) is a NASA Earth Ventures Suborbital Investigation designed to test the hypothesis that kilometer-scale ('submesoscale') ocean eddies make important contributions to vertical exchange of climate and biological variables in the upper ocean. To test this hypothesis, S-MODE will employ a combination of aircraft-based remote sensing measurements of the ocean surface, measurements from ships, measurements from a variety of autonomous oceanographic platforms, and numerical modeling. The field campaign will consist of two month-long intensive operating periods (IOPs) that will be preceded by a smaller-scale pilot experiment to test and improve operational readiness and to compare measurements made from different platforms. The pilot experiment was delayed because of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, and it is currently planned for October-November 2020.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Farrar, J. T., Eric D'Asaro, Ernesto Rodriguez, Andrey Shcherbina, Erin Czech, Paul Matthias, Sommer Nicholas, Frederick Bingham, Amala Mahedevan, Melissa Omand, Luc Rainville, Craig Lee, Dudley Chelton, Roger Samelson, Larry O'Neill, Luc Lenain, Dimitris Menemenlis, Dragana Perkovic-Martin, Pantazis Mouroulis, Michelle Gierach, David Thompson, Alexander Wineteer, Hector Torres, Patrice Klein, Andrew Thompson, James C. McWilliams, Jeroen Molemaker, Roy Barkan, and Jacob Wenegrat. "S-MODE: The Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment." International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) (2020): 3533-3536. doi: 10.1109/IGARSS39084.2020.9323112.