International Pacific Research Center | People

Peter W. Hacker

Senior Research Scientist
HIGP

International Pacific Research Center
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Email:

Education

1973 - Ph.D. Physical Oceanography, University of California (Scripps), San Diego
1966 - M.S. Physical Oceanography, University of California (Scripps), San Diego
1964 - B.S. Engineering Physics, University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests

Physical oceanography
Upper ocean processes
Air-sea interaction
Ocean circulation and mixing

Professional Experience

University of Hawaii, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

Senior Research Scientist, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, 1992 – present
Manager, Asia-Pacific Data-Research Center, IPRC, 2001 – 2010
Visiting Senior Fellow, JIMAR, 1991 – 1992
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Research Scientist, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 1984 – 1992
Scientific Officer, U.S. TOGA Project Office, NOAA, 1984 – 1987
Program Director, Physical Oceanography Program, NSF, 1981 – 1984
Self-employed, Oceanographic Consultant, 1980 – 1981
Program Director, Physical Oceanography Program, NSF, 1977 – 1980
Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1973 – 1977

Recent At-Sea Experience (1999-2002)

2001 October 17 to November 5. Participant on the R/V Mirai Tropical Ocean Climate Study cruise to the eastern Indian Ocean, western equatorial Pacific and Indonesian Throughflow regions. (Singapore to Palau). Chief Scientist, Keisuke Mizuno (JAMSTEC). Purpose: TRITON buoy maintenance and hydrography in the eastern Indian Ocean.
2000 September 13 to October 1. Participant with E. Firing on the R/V Kaiyo Tropical Ocean Climate Study cruise to the western equatorial Pacific and Mindanao Current region.(Kavieng, PNG to Palau). Chief Scientist, Yuji Kashino (JAMSTEC). Purpose: TRITON buoy maintenance, hydrography, shipboard/lowered acoustic Doppler current profiling in the western equatorial Pacific.
1999 April 30 to June 8. PI with R. Lukas and E. Firing for the JASMINE ocean observations in the Bay of Bengal aboard the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown (Singapore to Darwin, Australia). Chief Scientist, Chris Fairall (NOAA); collaborating PIs, P. Webster and R. Houze.
1999 February 13 to March 1. Participant with E. Firing on the R/V Kaiyo Tropical Ocean Climate Study cruise to the Mindanao Current and Celebes Sea (Palau to Palau). Chief Scientist, Yuji Kashino (JAMSTEC). Purpose: TRITON buoy maintenance, hydrography, shipboard/lowered acoustic Doppler current profiling in the western equatorial Pacific.

Refereed Publications

Li Yi, D., O.V. Melnichenko, P. Hacker, and K. Fan, 2022: Satellite-Observed Time and Length Scales of Global Sea Surface Salinity Variability: A Comparison of Three Satellite Missions. Remote Sensing, 14 (21), 5435, doi:10.3390/rs14215435. IPRC-1582.
Melnichenko, O., P. Hacker, and V. Muller, 2021: Observations of Mesoscale Eddies in Satellite SSS and Inferred Eddy Salt Transport. Remote Sensing, 13 (2), doi:10.3390/rs13020315. IPRC-1502.
Yi, D. L., O. Melnichenko, P. Hacker, and J. Potemra, 2020: Remote sensing of sea surface salinity variability in the South China Sea. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 125 (12), doi:10.1029/2020JC016827. IPRC-1489.
Melnichenko, O.V., P. Hacker, F. Bingham, and T. Lee, 2019: Patterns of SSS variability in the eastern tropical Pacific: intra-seasonal to inter-annual time-scales from seven years of NASA satellite data. Oceanography, 32 (2), 20-29, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2019.208. IPRC-1377.
Kao, H.-Y., G.S.E. Lagerloef, T. Lee, O.V. Melnichenko, T. Meissner, and P. Hacker, 2018: Assessment of Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity. Remote Sensing, 10 (9), 1341, doi:10.3390/rs10091341. IPRC-1338.
Melnichenko, O.V., A. Amores, N.A. Maximenko, P. Hacker, and J.T. Potemra, 2017: Signature of mesoscale eddies in satellite sea surface salinity data. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 122 (2), 1416-1424, doi:10.1002/2016JC012420. IPRC-1236.
Melnichenko, O.V., P. Hacker, N.A. Maximenko, G. Lagerloef, and J.T. Potemra, 2016: Optimum interpolation analysis of Aquarius sea surface salinity. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121 (1), 602-616, doi:10.1002/2015JC011343. IPRC-1164.
Potemra, J.T., P. Hacker, O.V. Melnichenko, and N.A. Maximenko, 2016: Satellite estimate of freshwater exchange between the Indonesian Seas and the Indian Ocean via the Sunda Strait. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121 (7), 5098-5111, doi:10.1002/2015JC011618. IPRC-1193.
Melnichenko, O.V., P. Hacker, N.A. Maximenko, G. Lagerloef, and J.T. Potemra, 2014: Spatial Optimal Interpolation of Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity: Algorithms and Implementation in the North Atlantic. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 31 (7), 1583-1600, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00241.1. IPRC-1052.
Yoshida, S., B. Qiu, and P. Hacker, 2011: Low-frequency eddy modulations in the Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent: Observations and connection to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 116, C12009, doi:10.1029/2011JC007286.
Yoshida, S., B. Qiu, and P. Hacker, 2010: Wind-generated eddy characteristics in the lee of the island of Hawaii. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 115, C03019, doi:10.1029/2009JC005417.
Qiu, B., S. Chen, P. Hacker, N.G. Hogg, S.R. Jayne, and H. Sasaki, 2008: The Kuroshio Extension northern recirculation gyre: Profiling float measurements and forcing mechanism. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38 (8), 1764-1779.
Chen, S., B. Qiu, and P. Hacker, 2007: Profiling float measurements of the recirculation gyre south of the Kuroshio Extension in May-November 2004. J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 112, C05023, doi:10.1029/2006.
Qiu, B., S. Chen, and P. Hacker, 2007: Effect of mesoscale eddies on Subtropical Mode Water variability from the Kuroshio Extension System Study (KESS). J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37, 982-1000.
Firing, E., Y. Kashino, and P. Hacker, 2005: Energetic subthermocline currents observed east of Mindanao. Deep Sea Research II, 52, 605–613. IPRC-291.
Shcherbina, A.Y., L.D. Talley, E. Firing, and P. Hacker, 2003: Near surface frontal zone trapping and deep upward propagation of internal wave energy in the Japan/East Sea. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 33, 900-921. doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2003)33%3C900:NFZTAD%3E2.0.CO;2.
Webster, P.J., E.F. Bradley, C.W. Fairall, J.S. Godfrey, P. Hacker, R.A. Houze Jr., R. Lukas, Y. Serra, J.M. Hummon, T.D.M. Lawrence, C.A. Russell, M.N. Ryan, K. Sahami, and P. Zuidema, 2002: The Joint Air-Sea Monsoon Interaction Experiment (JASMINE) Pilot Study. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 83, 1603-1630.
DiMarco, S.F., P. Chapman, W.D. Nowlin, Jr., P. Hacker, K. Donohue, M. Luther, G.C. Johnson, and J. Toole, 2002: Volume transport and property distributions of the Mozambique Channel. Deep-Sea Res. II, 49, 1481-1511.
Meyers, G., S. Godfrey, A. Gordon, P. Hacker, M. Jury, B. Lau, V.V. Gopalakrishna, T. Sribimawati and T. Yamagata, 2001: Monsoon, seasonal and interannual applications of an Indian Ocean observing system. In: Observing the Oceans in the 21st Century. Edited by: C.J. Koblinsky, and N.R. Smith. 2001 GODAE Project Office, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne VIC 3001, 48-65.
Kashino, Y., E. Firing, P. Hacker, A. Sulaiman, and Lukiyanto, 2001: Currents in the Celebes and Maluka Seas, February 1999. Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 1263-1266.
Soloviev, A., R. Lukas, and P. Hacker, 2001: An approach to parameterization of the oceanic turbulent boundary layer in the western Pacific Warm Pool. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 4421-4435.
Feng, M., R. Lukas, and P. Hacker, 2001: Spinup of a sub-mesoscale eddy in the TOGA COARE Intensive Flux Array during the spindown of an intense eastward jet. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 31, 711-724.
Lukas, R., P. Hacker, S. DeCarlo, J. Hummon, F. Santiago-Mandujano, and D. Wright, 2001: Hydrographic Observations during the Joint Air-Sea Monsoon Interaction Experiment (JASMINE) Pilot Study, Data Report, SOEST 5319, pp. 246.
Feng, M., R. Lukas, P. Hacker, R.A. Weller, and S.P. Anderson, 2000: Upper-ocean heat and salt balances in the western equatorial Pacific in response to the Intraseasonal Oscillation during TOGA COARE. J. Climate, 13, 2409-2427.
Soloviev, A., R. Lukas, and P. Hacker, 2000: Horizontal structure of the upper ocean velocity and density fields in the western equatorial Pacific warm pool: Depth range from 20 to 250 m. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 416-432.
Soloviev, A., R. Lukas, P. Hacker, H. Schoeberlein, M. Baker, and A. Arjannikov, 1999: A near-surface microstructure sensor system used during TOGA COARE. Part II: Turbulence measurements. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 16, 1598-1618.
Hacker, P., E. Firing, J. Hummon, A.L. Gordon, and J.C. Kindle, 1998: Bay of Bengal currents during the northeast monsoon. Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 2769-2772.
Feng, M., M.A. Merrifield, R. Pinkel, P. Hacker, A.J. Pluddemann, E. Firing, R. Lukas, and C. Eriksen, 1998: Semidiurnal tides observed in the western equatorial Pacific during the TOGA COARE. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 10,253-10,272.
Feng, M., P. Hacker, and R. Lukas, 1998. Upper ocean heat and salt balances in response to a westerly wind burst in the western equatorial Pacific during TOGA COARE. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 10,289-10,311.
Wijffels, S., M. Hall, T. Joyce, D.J. Torres, P. Hacker, and E. Firing, 1998: The multiple gyres of the western North Pacific: A WOCE section along 149E. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 12,985-13,009.
Firing, E., S.E. Wijffels, and P. Hacker, 1998: Equatorial subthermocline currents across the Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 21,413-21,423.
Gordon, A.L., S. Ma, D.B. Olson, P. Hacker, A. Field, L.D. Talley, D. Wilson, and M. Baringer, 1997: Advection and diffusion of Indonesian throughflow water within the Indian Ocean South Equatorial Current. Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 2573-2576.
Huyer, A., P.M. Kosro, R. Lukas, and P. Hacker, 1997: Upper Ocean thermohaline fields near 2S, 156E during the Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment, November 1992 to February 1993. J. Geophys. Res., 102, 12,749-12,784.
Hacker, P., E. Firing, W.D. Wilson, and R. Molinari, 1996: Direct observations of the current structure east of the Bahamas. Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 1127-1130.
Lukas, R., E. Firing, P. Hacker, P.L. Richardson, C.A. Collins, R. Fine, and R. Gammon, 1991: Observations of the Mindanao Current during the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean Circulation Study (WEPOCS). J. Geophys. Res., 96, 7089-7104.
Milliman, J.D., Y. Hsueh, D.-X. Hu, D.J. Pashinski, H.-T. Shen, Z.-S. Yang, and P.W. Hacker, 1984: Tidal phase control of sediment discharge from the Yangtze River. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 19, 119-128.
Boicourt, W.C., and P.W. Hacker, 1975: Circulation on the Atlantic continental shelf of the United States, Cape May to Cape Hatteras. Mem. Soc. Roy. Sci. Liege, 10, 187-200.
Gregg, M.C., C.S. Cox, and P.W. Hacker, 1973: Vertical microstructure measurements in the central North Pacific. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 3, 458-469.