Variational Methods in Geosciences: International Symposium Proceedings

The last few decades have seen a spectacular growth in the use of variational methods, one of the most classic and elegant methods in physical and mathematical sciences, as powerful tools of optimization and numerical analysis. The tremendous accumulation of information on the use of variational methods in the area of the geosciences, which includes meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, geophysics and seismology, indicated the need for the first symposium on Variational Methods in Geosciences to be organized and held in Norman on October 15-17, 1985. The value of this symposium was enhanced by the number of stimulating and informative papers presented.

Table of Contents:
Sponsoring Organizations. Committee Members. Preface. I. Meteorology and Oceanography. The Application of Variational Methods to Initialization on the Sphere (R.W. Daley). Application of Optimal Control to Meteorological Problems (O. Talagrand). A Review of Variational and Optimization Methods in Meteorology (I.M. Navon). Use of Adjoint Equations for Assimilation of Meteorological Observations by Barotropic Models (Ph. Courtier and O. Talagrand). The Variational Four-Dimensional Assimilation of Analyses Using Quasigeostrophic Models as Constraints (J.C. Derber). Evaluation of a Multivariate Variational Assimilation of Conventional and Satellite Data for the Diagnosis of Cyclone Systems (G.L. Achtemeier et al.). The Variational Inverse Method for the General Circulation in the Ocean (C. Provost). Variational Analysis of Wind Field and Geopotential at 500 mB (F.-X. Le Dimet and J. Segot). Design of a Three-Dimensional Global Atmospheric Prediction Model by a Variational Method (A. Kasahara). Variational Implicit Normal Mode Initialization for NWP Models (C. Temperton). Formulation of Normal Modes and Nonlinear Initialization for Limited-Area Models (R. Juvanon du Vachat and B. Urban). II. Meteorology and Remote Sensing. Sequential Estimation and Satellite Data Assimilation in Meteorology and Oceanography (M. Ghil). The Use of Adjoint Equations to Solve Variational Adjustment Problems Subject to Vorticity Conservation Constraints (J.M. Lewis). Variational Modification of the 3D-Wind Field (M. Hantel). A Four-Dimensional Analysis (R.N. Hoffman). Variational Initialization and Determination of Weighting Factors (Chung-Yi Tseng). Partial Spline Models for the Estimation of the Three Dimensional Atmospheric Temperature Distribution from Satellite Radiance Data and Tropopause Height Information (G. Wahba). The Retrieval of Moving Waves from Remotely-Sensed Atmospheric Data (D.M. Cunnold and Chowen Chou Wey). Impact of Doppler Wind Analysis Weights on Three Dimensional Airflow and Diagnosed Precipitation in a Thunderstorm (C.L. Ziegler). III. General Math Theory. Remarks on Systems with Uncomplete Data (J.L. Lions). Two Dimensional Kalman Filtering and Assimilation of Wind Profiler Data (D.F. Parrish and S.E. Cohn). Bayesian Optimal Analysis for Meteorological Data (R.J. Purser). Relationships Between Statistical and Deterministic Methods of Data Assimilation (W.C. Thacker). Assimilation of Dynamical Data in a Limited Area Model (F.-X. Le Dimet and A. Nouailler). IV. Engineering. Variational Principles and Adaptive Methods for Complex Flow Problems (J. Tinsley Oden et al.). Penalty Variational Formulation of Viscous Incompressible Fluid Flows (J.N. Reddy). A New Combination Method of Boundary Type Finite Elements and Boundary Elements for Wave Diffraction and Refraction (K. Kashiyama et al.). The Numerical Analysis of Two-Dimensional Steady Free Surface Flow Problems (T. Nakayama and M. Kawahara).