A new method allows quantifying the spatial intermittency of ocean
currents

Date:
July 13, 2023
Source:
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Summary:
Understanding Atlantic Ocean circulation is key for assessing the
global ocean interconnections, in what is known as the 'global
conveyor belt'.

This is because the latitudinal ends of the Atlantic, bordering
the polar regions, are cold-water formation regions that trigger
the onset of the global conveyor belt. Because of their high
density, each winter the waters of these polar regions sink and
initiate the conveyor belt, thus helping to redistribute heat
on a planetary scale, which ultimately influences the climate,
especially in Europe.


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==========================================================================
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Understanding Atlantic Ocean circulation is key for assessing the
global ocean interconnections, in what is known as the "global conveyor
belt." This is because the latitudinal ends of the Atlantic, bordering the polar regions, are cold-water formation regions that trigger the onset
of the global conveyor belt. Because of their high density, each winter
the waters of these polar regions sink and initiate the conveyor belt,
thus helping to redistribute heat on a planetary scale, which ultimately influences the climate, especially in Europe.

To quantify this circulation on a planetary scale, it is necessary to understand the intensity of all those processes that cause the spatial
and temporal intermittency of the large currents, i.e. the diffusive
processes. A new study led by the Institut de Cie`ncies del Mar (ICM-CSIC)
in Barcelona, which delves into the processes of horizontal diffusion
in the South Atlantic, has developed a new methodology for calculating
this diffusion at both regional and global levels.

"The new methodology, which we have named ROD (Radial Offset by
Diffusion), allows us to determine the horizontal diffusion coefficients
in the ocean and to estimate their spatial variability," states Anna
Olive', leading author of the study.

To carry out this work, published in the Journal of Atmospheric and
Oceanic Technology, researchers analysed the displacements, between 2002
and 2020, of more than 600 drifting buoys, that is, dragged buoys that
drift with the ocean currents and hence allow knowing their direction
and speed.

"We then numerically simulated these buoys' trajectories and calculated
the distance between the final position of the drifting buoys and that estimated with the numerical simulations, which allowed us to quantify the horizontal diffusive processes existing in the region," adds Anna Olive'.

The study shows that the maximum horizontal diffusion occurs near the
ocean surface, in the first 200 m depth, while the minimum values are
observed between 1400 and 2000 m depth. Diffusion also increases in the northernmost Antarctic fronts due to the presence of the strong Falkland Current, which flows northwards along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia,
reaching La Plata River.

"This important spatial difference confirms the large variability of
horizontal diffusion in the ocean, which highlights that a constant
coefficient cannot be used throughout the ocean," explains Josep Llui's Pelegri', co-author of the study.

Unlike others, the ROD method is easy to implement and does not require excessive computational use. According to Anna Olive', "this facilitates
its application and makes it an effective tool for understanding the
processes of diffusion and turbulent mixing in regions as dynamic as the Antarctic fronts." For example, the new methodology will make it possible
to know which horizontal diffusion coefficient is most appropriate for
studying each oceanic region.

Until now, the uncertainties in this parameter has limited the predictive capacity of oceanographic numerical models.

"Thanks to the increase in the number of drifting buoys and the continuous improvements in high-resolution numerical models and reanalysis, the ROD
method will provide us with more precise estimates that will allow us
to better predict the temporal evolution of large-scale processes that
have a major impact on the climate of our planet, such as the global
conveyor belt," concludes Anna Olive'.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Earth_&_Climate
# Geography # Global_Warming # Oceanography #
Climate # Environmental_Awareness # Earth_Science #
Environmental_Issues # Ecosystems
* RELATED_TERMS
o Ocean_current o Climate o Gulf_Stream o Ocean o
Atmospheric_circulation o Geology_of_the_Himalaya o
Effects_of_global_warming o Geology_of_the_Alps

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========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anna Olive' Abello', Josep L. Pelegri', Francisco Machi'n. A Simple
Method for Estimating Horizontal Diffusivity. Journal of
Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 2023; 40 (6): 739 DOI:
10.1175/JTECH-D-22-0097.1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230713141958.htm

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