Coastal ocean fronts and eddies imaged with ERS 1 synthetic aperture radar

ERS 1 C band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data were collected during the Norwegian Continental Shelf Experiment (NORCSEX) both in November 1991 during the ERS 1 commissioning phase and at different seasons in 1992 and 1993. Characteristic SAR image expressions are observed in relation to perturbation of the surface current-short wave interaction across the Norwegian Coastal Current front for winds less than 10–12 m s−1. In situ measurements document the existence of alternating zones of convergence and divergence coexisting with a strong near-surface current shear of nearly 4f (where f is the Coriolis parameter) across a distance of a few kilometers. Under calm to moderate winds, i.e., 4–7 m s−1, characteristic expressions of upper ocean circulation features also include the manifestation of eddies through the presence of surface film, which damps the Bragg waves. Comparison of a near-coincident National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advanced very high resolution radiometer image and an ERS 1 SAR image supports the interpretation that surface current fronts are imaged by SAR. In combination with a SAR image simulation model, the relative quantitative importance of shear, convergence, and divergence along the front is examined. Although the model formulation is simple and the absolute magnitude of the perturbations is uncertain, the study shows that the SAR images can sometimes be used to interpret frontal dynamics, including growth and decay of meanders

Editorial: Design Pedagogy

The number of DRS 2020 paper submissions relating to design education reflects the ongoing and active engagement of the design education research community. 2020 will, of course, be remembered for the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on design education programs and colleagues around the world. The rapid shift to new and unfamiliar modes of delivery has been a challenge for teaching colleagues and design students and looks likely to have further longer-term impacts over the next years