CoAuthors

Jessica Caggiano (University of South Florida, United States); Boris Galperin (University of South Florida, United States); Greg King (University of South Florida, United States)

Transverse structure functions sort transverse velocity differences as a function of separation distance. The slope of the function from small distances to longer distances will change depending on the level of turbulence and sub-mesoscale energy in the velocity field. Here, we compare structure functions computed from along-track TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, and Jason-3 data throughout the Southern Ocean with acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) data primarily in the Drake Passage. Both are also tested against a new theory that can explain why structure functions and spectra of velocity data change as a function of latitude related to Coriollis force.