FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Comparison between Eulerian diagnostics and finite-size Lyapunov exponents computed from altimetry in the Algerian basin BT AF D'OVIDIO, Francesco ISERN-FONTANET, Jordi LOPEZ, Cristobal HERNANDEZ GARCIA, Emilio GARCIA LADONA, Emilio AS 1:1,2;2:3;3:4;4:4;5:5; FF 1:;2:PDG-DOP-DCB-OPS-LOS;3:;4:;5:; C1 IPSL, Lab Oceanog & Climat Expt & Approches Numer, Paris, France. Paris Ile France ISC PIF, Inst Complex Syst, Paris, France. IFREMER, Lab Oceanog Spatiale, Plouzane, France. CSIC UIB, Inst Fis Interdisciplinary & Sistemas Complejos, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. CSIC, Inst Ciencias Mar, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. C2 IPSL, FRANCE PARIS ILE FRANCE ISC PIF, FRANCE IFREMER, FRANCE CSIC, SPAIN CSIC, SPAIN SI BREST SE PDG-DOP-DCB-OPS-LOS IN WOS Ifremer jusqu'en 2018 copubli-france copubli-europe copubli-univ-france IF 2.593 TC 130 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6136.pdf LA English DT Article DE ;Lagrangian dynamics;Mediterranean circulation;Altimetry;Filaments;Sub mesoscale AB Transport and mixing properties of surface currents can be detected from altimetric data by both Eulerian and Lagrangian diagnostics. In contrast with Eulerian diagnostics, Lagrangian tools like the local Lyapunov exponents have the advantage of exploiting both spatial and temporal variability of the velocity field and are in principle able to unveil subgrid filaments generated by chaotic stirring. However, one may wonder whether this theoretical advantage is of practical interest in real-data, mesoscale and sub-mesoscale analysis, because of the uncertainties and resolution of altimetric products, and the non-passive nature of biogeochemical tracers. Here we compare the ability of standard Eulerian diagnostics and the finite-size Lyapunov exponent in detecting instantaneous and climatological transport and mixing properties in the south-western Mediterranean. By comparing with sea-surface temperature patterns, we find that the two approaches provide similar results for slowly evolving eddies like the first Alboran gyre. However, the Lyapunov exponent is also able to predict the (sub-)mesoscale filamentary processes occurring along the Algerian current and above the Balearic Abyssal Plain. Such filaments are also observed, with some mismatch, in sea-surface temperature patterns. Climatologies of Lyapunov exponents do not show any compact relation with other Eulerian diagnostics, unveiling a different structure even at the basin scale. We conclude that filamentation dynamics can be detected by reprocessing available altimetric data with Lagrangian tools, giving insight into (sub-)mesoscale stirring processes relevant to tracer observations and complementing traditional Eulerian diagnostics. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. PY 2009 SO Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers SN 0967-0637 PU Elsevier VL 56 IS 1 UT 000262589500002 BP 15 EP 31 DI 10.1016/j.dsr.2008.07.014 ID 6136 ER EF