An atlas of solitary waves observed at sites around the world is being produced under the sponsorship of the ONR Physical Oceanography Program. The soliton observations are from satellite and aircraft images and in-situ measurements. Imaging remote sensors include synthetic and real aperture radars, optical radiometers, and cameras. Approximately 50 geographically distributed case studies are documented via: presentations of imagery; analyses of wave kinematics; historical or concurrent density profiles for the area; and analytical/numerical model outputs. An interpretation of the soliton surface signatures is presented in terms of oscillatory solutions to the Korteweg-De Vries equation. Soliton theory allows observed wavelengths and density profiles to be used to evaluate local amplitudes and currents for the soliton packet, and then permits simulation of their propagation forward in time and space. Emphasis is on coastal regions because most of the solitons are formed near the shelf break or over sills, which then propagate toward shore. Case studies will be posted on the University of Delaware Graduate College of Marine Studies web page as each is completed, and the Atlas will be published as both a bound volume and as a CDROM; it should be available in late-2000.
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