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Zoltan Szuts

Principal Oceanographer

Email

zszuts@apl.washington.edu

Phone

206-616-7918

Department Affiliation

Ocean Physics

Education

B.A. Biology, Oberlin College, 2001

M.S. Oceanography, University of Washington, 2004

Ph.D. Oceanography, University of Washington, 2008

Publications

2000-present and while at APL-UW

Interaction of typhoon-driven near-inertial waves with an anticyclone in the Philippine Sea

Lazaneo, C.Z., L. Thomas, Z.B. Szuts, J.M. Cusack, K.-F. Chang, and R.K. Shearman, "Interaction of typhoon-driven near-inertial waves with an anticyclone in the Philippine Sea," Oceanography, 37, 68-81, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2024.308, 2024.

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1 Dec 2024

The Philippine Sea in the western Pacific is a region with high mesoscale eddy kinetic energy that is buffeted by intense typhoons. Such typhoons generate strong near-inertial waves (NIWs), making this region ideal for studying interactions between typhoon-driven NIWs and mesoscale eddies. To study such interactions, a field campaign was conducted in the Philippine Sea that targeted an anticyclonic eddy after the passage of Super Typhoon Mawar. The study was part of the US Office of Naval Research Departmental Research Initiative ARCTERX (Island Arc Turbulent Eddy Regional Exchange). During the campaign, ship and float-based velocity measurements revealed layers of intense vertical shear oscillating at slightly sub-inertial frequencies in the anticyclone. The shear layers were stronger toward the eddy center and coincided with patches of elevated turbulence. An idealized numerical simulation initialized with a symmetric eddy modeled after observations and forced by reanalysis winds was used to study the formation of NIWs by Typhoon Mawar and their interactions with the eddy. The model captured the structure and vertical propagation of the observed shear layers and demonstrated how the dynamics of the NIWs in the anticyclone are consistent with NIW trapping following the theory of ς-refraction. The simulated shear layers were not as intense as those that were observed and could not explain the patches of enhanced turbulence. Processes not included in the model, more specifically the internal tides that are particularly strong in the Philippine Sea, likely contribute to the discrepancy. Energy exchange between the NIWs and the anticyclone diagnosed using the model output was weak, suggesting that typhoon-driven NIWs play a secondary role in the energetics of eddies in the Philippine Sea, or that the idealized nature of the model limited wave-mean flow energy exchange.

FlowPilot: Shoreside autonomy for profiling floats

Szuts, Z., T. Harrison, T. Curtin, B. Kirby, and B. Ma, "FlowPilot: Shoreside autonomy for profiling floats," Proc., OCEANS, 25-28 September, Biloxi, MS, doi:10.23919/OCEANS52994.2023.10337384 (MTS/IEEE, 2023).

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11 Dec 2023

Over the last twenty years, profiling floats have revolutionized ocean observations with globally distributed Lagrangian arrays performing fixed vertical sampling cycles. Here we investigate adaptive sampling with an array of inter-dependent floats guided by a software package called FlowPilot, which uses all available float measurements to select park depths that provide favorable drifts based on sampling goals. Drift predictions are performed with multiple prediction methods, including methods that use float data (drift velocity, geostrophic velocity calculations) or from external sources like numerical ocean forecast models. A skill-based weight is assigned to each method based on how accurately it predicts recent drifts. With this generalized approach to prediction, disparate methods can be combined numerically to permit multi-method optimization. The emergent skill of FlowPilot is tested and quantified by numerical simulations that minimize dispersion by keeping a grid of floats close to the center of the deployment box.

The scientific and societal uses of global measurements of subsurface velocity

Szuts, Z.B., and 12 others including J.B. Girton, "The scientific and societal uses of global measurements of subsurface velocity," Front. Mar. Sci., 6, 358, doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00358, 2019.

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24 Jul 2019

Ocean velocity defines ocean circulation, yet the available observations of subsurface velocity are under-utilized by society. The first step to address these concerns is to improve visibility of and access to existing measurements, which include acoustic sampling from ships, subsurface float drifts, and measurements from autonomous vehicles. While multiple programs provide data publicly, the present difficulty in finding, understanding, and using these data hinder broader use by managers, the public, and other scientists. Creating links from centralized national archives to project specific websites is an easy but important way to improve data discoverability and access. A further step is to archive data in centralized databases, which increases usage by providing a common framework for disparate measurements. This requires consistent data standards and processing protocols for all types of velocity measurements. Central dissemination will also simplify the creation of derived products tailored to end user goals. Eventually, this common framework will aid managers and scientists in identifying regions that need more sampling and in identifying methods to fulfill those demands. Existing technologies are capable of improving spatial and temporal sampling, such as using ships of opportunity or from autonomous platforms like gliders, profiling floats, or Lagrangian floats. Future technological advances are needed to fill sampling gaps and increase data coverage.

More Publications

Acoustics Air-Sea Interaction & Remote Sensing Center for Environmental & Information Systems Center for Industrial & Medical Ultrasound Electronic & Photonic Systems Ocean Engineering Ocean Physics Polar Science Center
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