Drifter observations in the summer time Bay of Biscay slope current

Porter, M, Inall, M, Green, JAM, Simpson, JH, Dale, AC and Miller, PI 2016 Drifter observations in the summer time Bay of Biscay slope current. Journal of Marine Systems, 157. 65-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.01.002

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Abstract/Summary

During the summer of 2012, 20 surface drifters drogued at 50 m depth were deployed on the continental slope to the north of the Bay of Biscay. Initially after release the drifters all crossed the slope, with 14 continuing equatorward, parallel to the slope following an absolute dynamic topography feature and 6 returning to the slope, in an eddy, visible in chlorophyll-a maps. Lagrangian statistics show an anisotropic flow field that becomes less tied to the absolute dynamic topography and increasingly dominated by diffusion and eddy processes. A weaker tie to the absolute dynamic topography allowed for total of 8 of the drifters crossed from the deep water onto the shelf, showing pathways for flow across the slope. A combination of drifter trajectories, absolute dynamic topography and chlorophyll-a concentration maps have been used to show that small anticyclonic eddies, tied to the complex slope topography provide a mechanism for on shelf transport. During the summer, the presence of these eddies can be seen in surface chlorophyll-a maps.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Will be published in May 2016 issue
Additional Keywords:	Drifters; Bay of Biscay; lagrangian statistics; Cross-slope exchange
Subjects:	Marine Sciences Oceanography
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Earth Observation Science and Applications
Depositing User:	Dr Peter I Miller
Date made live:	05 Feb 2016 15:22
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2020 09:57
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6784

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• Drifter observations in the summer time Bay of Biscay slope current. (deposited 05 Feb 2016 15:22) [Currently Displayed]

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