Rapid environmental assessment is conducted using disparate data sources in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. An overview of significant physical features in the Gulf highlights the complexities of the large and meso-scale circulations. Spectral analysis of high resolution current meter and drifter data reveals the significant forcing features detectable by readily available observing techniques. These observations are combined with boundary data extracted from the U.S. Navy's Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) through Normal Mode Analysis (NMA). The NMA blending process is described, and surface maps of velocity and convergence are produced. Using statistical and qualitative techniques, the NMA generated “nowcasts” are analyzed to determine the significant modes applicable to varying oceanographic situations. Fundamental guidance for choosing the number and type of modes in an REA scenario are noted. The NMA method proves to be a useful tool in constructing analytic surface maps when the component modes are wisely chosen.
","abstract_html":"<p>Rapid environmental assessment is conducted using disparate data sources in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. An overview of significant physical features in the Gulf highlights the complexities of the large and meso-scale circulations. Spectral analysis of high resolution current meter and drifter data reveals the significant forcing features detectable by readily available observing techniques. These observations are combined with boundary data extracted from the U.S. Navy's Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) through Normal Mode Analysis (NMA). The NMA blending process is described, and surface maps of velocity and convergence are produced. Using statistical and qualitative techniques, the NMA generated “nowcasts” are analyzed to determine the significant modes applicable to varying oceanographic situations. Fundamental guidance for choosing the number and type of modes in an REA scenario are noted. The NMA method proves to be a useful tool in constructing analytic surface maps when the component modes are wisely chosen.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Schulz, William John, Jr."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Ocean & Earth Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["A. D. Kirwan, Jr.","C. E. Grosch","J. A. Adam","J. M. Harding","B. L. Lipphardt, Jr."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1999,"date_issued":"1999-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1999-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:39Z","subjects":["Gulf of Mexico","Normal mode analysis","Ocean surface","Surface maps","Oceanography","Remote Sensing"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Ocean Surface Maps From Blending Disparate Data Through Normal Mode Analysis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["A. D. Kirwan, Jr.","C. E. Grosch","J. A. Adam","J. M. Harding","B. L. Lipphardt, Jr."],"dc:creator":["Schulz, William John, Jr."],"dc:date.available":["2019-04-16T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Rapid environmental assessment is conducted using disparate data sources in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. An overview of significant physical features in the Gulf highlights the complexities of the large and meso-scale circulations. Spectral analysis of high resolution current meter and drifter data reveals the significant forcing features detectable by readily available observing techniques. These observations are combined with boundary data extracted from the U.S. Navy's Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) through Normal Mode Analysis (NMA). The NMA blending process is described, and surface maps of velocity and convergence are produced. Using statistical and qualitative techniques, the NMA generated “nowcasts” are analyzed to determine the significant modes applicable to varying oceanographic situations. Fundamental guidance for choosing the number and type of modes in an REA scenario are noted. The NMA method proves to be a useful tool in constructing analytic surface maps when the component modes are wisely chosen.
"],"dc:identifier":["9780599652750","https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_etds/80"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"],"dc:subject":["Gulf of Mexico","Normal mode analysis","Ocean surface","Surface maps","Oceanography","Remote Sensing"],"dc:title":["Ocean Surface Maps From Blending Disparate Data Through Normal Mode Analysis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Ocean & Earth Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:34:39Z"}