Uncertainty Quantification of Density and Stratification Estimates with Implications for Predicting Ocean Dynamics

A. Manderson, M. D. Rayson, E. Cripps, M. Girolami, J. P. Gosling, M. Hodkiewicz, G. N. Ivey, N. L. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a statistical method for reconstructing continuous background density profiles that embeds incomplete measurements and a physically intuitive density stratification model within a Bayesian hierarchal framework. A double hyperbolic tangent function is used as a parametric density stratification model that captures various pycnocline structures in the upper ocean and offers insight into several density profile characteristics (e.g., pycnocline depth). The posterior distribution is used to quantify uncertainty and is estimated using recent advances in Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. Temporally evolving posterior distributions of density profile characteristics, isopycnal heights, and nonlinear ocean process models for internal gravity waves are presented as examples of how uncertainty propagates through models dependent on the density stratification. The results show 0.95 posterior interval widths that ranged from 2.5% to 4% of the expected values for the linear internal wave phase speed and 15%-40% for the nonlinear internal wave steepening parameter. The data, collected over a year from a through-the-column mooring, and code, implemented in the software package Stan, accompany the article.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1313-1330
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2019

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Uncertainty Quantification of Density and Stratification Estimates with Implications for Predicting Ocean Dynamics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this