Comparison of Surface Current Data from In Situ Observations with Numerical-Model-Derived Data, Satellite Altimetry Measurement Data, and the Results of Dynamic Method Calculations for the Sea of Okhotsk near the Northwestern Coast of Kamchatka

Abstract

Schemes of surface flows near northwestern Kamchatka are shown, compiled from in situ observation data, numerical-model-derived data, satellite altimetry measurement data, and results calculated by the dynamic method. The flow characteristics obtained by various methods are compared. No statistically significant linear dependence of the velocities of absolute and geostrophic currents were detected. A linear dependence was observed between the directions of geostrophic flows calculated by the standard dynamic method and from satellite altimetry data, as well as between directions measured by the Argonaut MD and the calculated model. We have estimated the fraction of the ageostrophic component in currents. According to geostrophic current calculations by different methods, it ranged from 86 to 93%. A significant limitation of this data is the difficulty of their interpretation. They may not always give a perfect representation of stable water circulation in the studied area under.