What question did this study set out to answer?

To characterize mesoscale ocean circulation and local air-sea interactions between the Azores and Madeira, evaluating upper ocean dynamics and atmospheric boundary layer processes.

September 30, 1996Annales GeophysicaeOpen Access

Study of the air-sea interactions at the mesoscale: the SEMAPHORE experiment

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To characterize mesoscale ocean circulation and local air-sea interactions between the Azores and Madeira, evaluating upper ocean dynamics and atmospheric boundary layer processes.
Conducted the SEMAPHORE field campaign from June to November 1993 using moorings, floats, ship hydrological surveys, drifting buoys, two instrumented aircraft, and satellite remote sensing.
Carried out an intense observing period (IOP) in October–November 1993 to capture high-resolution turbulent heat and momentum fluxes across the Azores frontal zone.
Combined observational data analysis with ocean, meteorological, and operational wave model simulations, incorporating satellite and buoy data assimilation.
Identified a 2 °C cooling and a 40-m deepening of the upper ocean mixed layer during the IOP, corresponding to a heat loss of approximately 100 W m-2 driven primarily by October storms.
Observed a 30% difference in turbulent heat fluxes across the surface thermal front over a 4-day period, while showing that classical bulk parameterizations fail to accurately capture momentum flux under low wind and unstable conditions.
Demonstrated improved operational wave model accuracy after assimilating satellite and buoy wind fields, while noting that the model underestimated distant swell components.

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Implication

Field observational campaign reveals mesoscale air-sea coupling dynamics in the Northeast Atlantic, indicating limitations in standard flux parameterizations.

Cite This Study

Eymard et al. (1996) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a90389c7b6e700e2c8a45c1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-996-0986-6

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Implication

Field observational campaign reveals mesoscale air-sea coupling dynamics in the Northeast Atlantic, indicating limitations in standard flux parameterizations.

Study of the air-sea interactions at the mesoscale: the SEMAPHORE experiment

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Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Study of the air-sea interactions at the mesoscale: the SEMAPHORE experiment

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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