Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 2
Monthly sea level variation at a Kota Kinabalu b Bintulu from altimeter and tide gauge
data
observation and mapped together with the track of the drifter. Figure
3
shows the
complete track of drifter (red line) from 1st December 2005 to 2nd January 2006.
Whereas, Fig.
4
a-e shows the track of drifter 49696 for every seven days overlaid
on the map of mean geostrophic current during the same period. Overall, the
vortex rotation of drifter 49696 from the tracks is roughly consistent with the mean
absolute geostrophic current pattern derived in this study. During the first and
second week, the drifter 49696 which was released at 1.68N 106.327Eon30
November moved north eastward before it turned northward during the third week.
Thus, the trail of the drifter is agreeing well with the pattern of mean geostrophic
current. Interestingly, the drifter can be seen moving anti-clockwise in the fourth
and fifth week, indicating the existence of cyclonic circulation. Surprisingly, the
existence of vortex rotation illustrated by the track of drifter is well consistent with
the cyclonic circulation revealed by the mean geostrophic current centred at (6.5N
110E). Based on the result, the surface flow fields derived from the altimetry data
in this study are reliable and can be used to study mesoscale phenomena occurring
in the surface layer.
