Eddy-Induced Particle Dispersion in the Near-Surface North Atlantic

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-11-0191.1
• Publication Date: 2012-08-21T18:19:25Z
• Authors: Irina I. Rypina; Igor Kamenkovich; Pavel Berloff; Lawrence J. Pratt
• Keywords: Eddy; Eddy diffusion; TRACER

Abstract This study investigates the anisotropic properties of eddy-induced material transport in near-surface North Atlantic from two independent datasets, one simulated sea surface height altimetry and derived real-ocean drifters, systematically examines interactions between mean- region. The Lagrangian particle dispersion, which is widely used to characterize tracer fluxes, quantified by constructing “spreading ellipses.” analysis consistently demonstrates that this dispersion spatially inhomogeneous strongly anisotropic. spreading larger more subtropical than subpolar gyre, largest ellipses occur Gulf Stream vicinity. Even at times longer half a year, exhibits significant nondiffusive behavior some parts domain. eddies are defined as deviations long-term time-mean. contributions climatological annual cycle, interannual, subannual (shorter year) variability investigated, latter shown have strongest effect on anisotropy spreading. influence mean advection investigated using “eddy-following-full-trajectories” technique found be significant. role Ekman is, however, secondary. pronounced expected important implications for distributing oceanic tracers, parameterizing transfer non-eddy-resolving models.