• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.541-550
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• 1997

A least-square regression analysis is applied for the estimation of velocity streamfunction field based on discretely sampled current meter data. The coefficients of a streamfuunction that is expanded in terms of trigonometric basis function are obtained by enforcing the horizontal non-divergence of two-dimensional flow field. This method avoids Interpolation and gives a root-mean-square (rms) residual of fit which Includes the divergent part and noisiness of oceanic data. The Implementation of the method Is done by employing a boundary-fitted, curvilinear orthogonal coordinate which facilitates the specification of boundary conditions. An application is successfully made to the Texas-Louisiana shelf using the 32 months current meter data (31 moorings) observed as a part of the Texas-Louisiana Shelf and Transport Processes Study (LATEX). The rms residual of the fitting is relatively small for the shelf, which indicates the field Is Ivell represented by the streamnfunction.