B. Subrahmanyam et al., Indian Ocean Rossby waves observed in TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data and inmodel simulations, INT J REMOT, 22(1), 2001, pp. 141-167
Analysis of 3 years of TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter data in the Indian Oc
ean revealed discrepancies between observed and theoretical Rossby wave pha
se speeds. Rossby waves were observed at all latitudes using Hovmoller diag
rams or longitude/time plots; their phase speeds were computed using two-di
mensional Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs). Complex Principal Component Analy
sis (CPCA) was applied to detect travelling waves. A simple wind-driven lay
er model was implemented for this region and forced with the ERS-1 scattero
meter winds, sampled over the same period as the T/P data, to demonstrate t
hat these winds account for much of the observed Rossby wave activity.