An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows

In Lagrangian dynamics, the detection of coherent clusters can help understand the organization of transport by identifying regions with coherent trajectory patterns. Many clustering algorithms, however, rely on user-input parameters, requiring a priori knowledge about the flow and making the outcom...

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Main Authors: Filippi, Margaux, Rypina, Irina I., Hadjighasem, Alireza, Peacock, Thomas
Format: Article
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2021
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131331
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author Filippi, Margaux
Rypina, Irina I.
Hadjighasem, Alireza
Peacock, Thomas
author_facet Filippi, Margaux
Rypina, Irina I.
Hadjighasem, Alireza
Peacock, Thomas
author_sort Filippi, Margaux
collection MIT
description In Lagrangian dynamics, the detection of coherent clusters can help understand the organization of transport by identifying regions with coherent trajectory patterns. Many clustering algorithms, however, rely on user-input parameters, requiring a priori knowledge about the flow and making the outcome subjective. Building on the conventional spectral clustering method of Hadjighasem et al. (2016), a new optimized-parameter spectral clustering approach is developed that automatically identifies optimal parameters within pre-defined ranges. A noise-based metric for quantifying the coherence of the resulting coherent clusters is also introduced. The optimized-parameter spectral clustering is applied to two benchmark analytical flows, the Bickley Jet and the asymmetric Duffing oscillator, and to a realistic, numerically generated oceanic coastal flow. In the latter case, the identified model-based clusters are tested using observed trajectories of real drifters. In all examples, our approach succeeded in performing the partition of the domain into coherent clusters with minimal inter-cluster similarity and maximum intra-cluster similarity. For the coastal flow, the resulting coherent clusters are qualitatively similar over the same phase of the tide on different days and even different years, whereas coherent clusters for the opposite tidal phase are qualitatively different.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1313312021-09-21T03:56:10Z An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows Filippi, Margaux Rypina, Irina I. Hadjighasem, Alireza Peacock, Thomas In Lagrangian dynamics, the detection of coherent clusters can help understand the organization of transport by identifying regions with coherent trajectory patterns. Many clustering algorithms, however, rely on user-input parameters, requiring a priori knowledge about the flow and making the outcome subjective. Building on the conventional spectral clustering method of Hadjighasem et al. (2016), a new optimized-parameter spectral clustering approach is developed that automatically identifies optimal parameters within pre-defined ranges. A noise-based metric for quantifying the coherence of the resulting coherent clusters is also introduced. The optimized-parameter spectral clustering is applied to two benchmark analytical flows, the Bickley Jet and the asymmetric Duffing oscillator, and to a realistic, numerically generated oceanic coastal flow. In the latter case, the identified model-based clusters are tested using observed trajectories of real drifters. In all examples, our approach succeeded in performing the partition of the domain into coherent clusters with minimal inter-cluster similarity and maximum intra-cluster similarity. For the coastal flow, the resulting coherent clusters are qualitatively similar over the same phase of the tide on different days and even different years, whereas coherent clusters for the opposite tidal phase are qualitatively different. 2021-09-20T14:16:15Z 2021-09-20T14:16:15Z 2021-01-12 2021-01-22T15:49:14Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131331 Fluids 6 (1): 39 (2021) PUBLISHER_CC http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/fluids6010039 Creative Commons Attribution https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
spellingShingle Filippi, Margaux
Rypina, Irina I.
Hadjighasem, Alireza
Peacock, Thomas
An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title_full An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title_fullStr An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title_full_unstemmed An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title_short An Optimized-Parameter Spectral Clustering Approach to Coherent Structure Detection in Geophysical Flows
title_sort optimized parameter spectral clustering approach to coherent structure detection in geophysical flows
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131331
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