Eddy‐Induced Acceleration of Argo Floats

Type Article
Date 2020-10
Language English
Author(s) Wang Tianyu1, 2, 3, Gille Sarah T.4, Mazloff Matthew R.4, Zilberman Nathalie V.4, Du Yan1, 2, 3
Affiliation(s) 1 : State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, China
2 : University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ,China
3 : Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory Guangzhou ,China
4 : Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla CA, USA
Source Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans (2169-9275) (American Geophysical Union (AGU)), 2020-10 , Vol. 125 , N. 10 , P. e2019JC016042 (13p.)
DOI 10.1029/2019JC016042
WOS© Times Cited 4
Keyword(s) Lagrangian motion, eddy-mean flow interaction, circulation, acceleration, Argo floats, currents
Abstract

Float trajectories are simulated using Lagrangian particle tracking software and eddy‐permitting ocean model output from the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2) project. We find that Argo‐like particles near strong mean flows tend to accelerate while at their parking depth. This effect is pronounced in western boundary current regions and in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system. The acceleration is associated with eddy‐mean flow interactions: Eddies converge particles toward regions with stronger mean currents. Particles do not accelerate when they are advected by the eddy or mean flow alone. During a 9‐day parking period, speed increases induced by the eddy‐mean flow interactions can be as large as 2 cm s−1, representing roughly 10% of the mean velocity. If unaccounted for, this acceleration could bias velocities inferred from observed Argo float trajectories.

Plain Language Summary

Ocean instruments called floats are carried by ocean currents. Tests carried out using output from a numerical simulation of the ocean show that near strong currents, eddies tend to bump floats into the currents. As a result, on average, at the end of a 10‐day sampling period, a float is likely to end up in water that is moving faster than the water where it started 10 days earlier. This effect should be considered when using particles to estimate mean velocities.

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