Article,
On wavelet techniques in atmospheric sciences
Fundamentals of Space Environment Science, 35 (5): 831--842 (2005)
DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2005.02.097
Abstract
Wavelet analysis has been formalized extensively due to the efforts
of mathematicians, physicists and engineers in the last two decades.
It has generated a tremendous interest in these communities both
in theoretical and applied areas, in such a way that wavelet analysis
is also considered now as a nucleus of shared aspirations and ideas.
Initially applied to seismic signal studies in geophysics in the
1980s, wavelet techniques have been explored in the atmospheric sciences
since the pioneer applications in turbulence studies. If one decides
to apply the wavelet analysis to a given signal, it is worthwhile
to assess the actual need of the technique itself and the best way
to perform it. In atmospheric signal applications, two main directions
have been followed: the singularity and the variance analysis. In
this paper, the potential uses of this tool supported by some recently
published works in the field of atmospheric sciences are discussed.
Therefore, initially the characteristics and main properties of the
wavelet analysis are presented, focusing on those that are mostly
used in the analysis of atmospheric signals. Continuous and discrete
wavelet transforms are also discussed, as well as the scalograms
and the variance analysis. Finally, some examples of wavelet analysis
applied to a wide range of atmospheric science phenomena are presented.
(c) 2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
- cloud
- convective
- eddy
- identification;
- length
- localization;
- motion;
- representation;
- systems;
- time-frequency
- transform;
- turbulence;
