Island Barrier Effects on Sea State as Revealed by a Numerical Wave Model and DMSP Satellite Data
Abstract
Island barrier effects on the state of the sea in the lee of islands have been studied by means of a numerical
wave prediction model and by examination of data from sensors of the Defense Meteorological Satellite
Program (DMSP), the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS), and the Earth Resources Technology
Satellite (ERTS). Visual indications of calm areas in the lee of the Lesser Antilles, evidenced by a marked
reduction in the satellite-observed sunglint at selected sun angles, are verified by the results from the numerical
wave model; other lee reflective patterns correspond to areas of changed sea state. These results
indicate that a reduction in the swell height, alteration of the period, and reorientation of the swell direction,
in many instances lol)g distances to the island's lee, are responsible for the satellite-observed reflective
patterns noted. The additional phenomena of bow waves and wind-induced oceanographic eddies are also
examined, and some evidence of their occurrence and detection is presented.
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1976)006<0324:IBEOSS>2.0.CO;2
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