An approach to the general interpretation of internal wave imagery

The ongoing MORSE project is concerned with furthering the understanding of the imaging and modelling of mesoscale ocean internal wave fields by radar sensing. Several aspects of the problem have been undertaken for investigation by the six partners involved. The aspect reported concerns the investigation and beginning of a software approach that couples together SAR images, image formation theory, image processing, hydrodynamic theory, and computer modelling in a single coherent package to enable an `inversion´ process to be performed that will generate sub-ocean-surface physical information of reasonable accuracy from the remotely-sensed surface manifestations of internal waves. In outline, the inversion depends upon the computer generation of a customized `features data base´ (based on a theoretical understanding of the whole imaging process) and the use of a search algorithm to match an observed image to one such modelled image. The forward modelling process allows the inclusion of the many nonlinear physical processes that are implicated in radar image formation and which prevent a straightforward interpretation and a direct inversion. From macroscopic image parameters and the implied surface current of the matched model one then infers the sub-surface structure through the theory of the origin and propagation of nonlinear internal waves. In a wider content, it is suggested that the process of adapting advanced research-level software and theory from the universities and research establishments to the level of generally available applications software for educational and industrial purposes be better established