Lagrangian methods for observation of intrathermocline eddies in ocean

• Published in: Oceanology (Washington. 1965) Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. 688 - 694
• Main Authors: Filyushkin, B. N., Sokolovskiy, M. A., Kozhelupova, N. G., Vagina, I. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.11.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Altimetry; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Eddies; Floats; Marine; Marine Physics; Ocean circulation; Ocean currents; Oceanography; AN, North Atlantic; MED, Eastern Mediterranean; Instantaneous Configuration; Passive Scalar Transport; Lens Radius; Argo; Float Trajectory
• ISSN: 0001-4370; 1531-8508
• DOI: 10.1134/S0001437014050051

Intrathermocline anticyclonic eddies (lenses) of Mediterranean origin are regularly observed in the Eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. These eddies are identified both from satellites as altimetry and seasurface temperature (SST) changes and according to data of neutral buoyancy floats (NBF) placed in the body of a lens. In this paper, in the framework of a three-layer quasi-geostrophic model, using the contour dynamics method, we consider some theoretical aspects of lens movement observations made by acoustic NBF and freely drifting buoys of the Argo project. Direct experimental observation data on the lenses’ drift in the North Atlantic qualitatively confirmed the results of our numerical experiments. In particular, it is shown that the spin of the lens has an advective influence on the behavior of NBF at distances of several lens radii.