Modeled radar surface signature of deep ocean convection

Deep ocean convection, the process by which the deep waters of the world's oceans are created and renewed, plays a keg role in the global thermohaline circulation and hence the world's heat balance. The process of deep ocean convection involves a vigorous overturning of the ocean mater column down t o depths of 2000-3000 m in an area probably not larger than 50 km in diamet er. This paper details the results of a theoretical study to identify remot ely sensible surface signatures for deep ocean convection. Due to the all-w eather capability, efforts have focused on the microwave part of the spectr um, particularly the high resolution imaging capability of synthetic apertu re radar (SAR). The goal of this research is to use the SAR surface signatu re or "fingerprint" to identify and characterize areas of convection in the open ocean. This information is then used to improve model parameterizatio ns for deep convection used in general circulation models. Electromagnetic simulations of remote sensing signatures of deep ocean convection have been performed based on existing hydrodynamic models. Simulated surface signatu res of deep convection are presented for various hydrodynamic and imaging c onditions along with a discussion of applicability of these simulations to real SAR data. Key findings are the existence of a definite identifiable ra dar surface signature in convective regions and a set of conditions under w hich one would expect to observe these signatures.