Lagrangian methods for observation of intrathermocline eddies in ocean

Abstract

Intrathermocline anticyclonic eddies (lenses) of Mediterranean origin are regularly observed in the Eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. These eddies are identified both from satellites as altimetry and sea� surface temperature (SST) changes and according to data of neutral buoyancy floats (NBF) placed in the body of a lens. In this paper, in the framework of a threelayer quasigeostrophic model, using the contour dynamics method, we consider some theoretical aspects of lens movement observations made by acoustic NBF and freely drifting buoys of the Argo project. Direct experimental observation data on the lenses' drift in the North Atlantic qualitatively confirmed the results of our numerical experiments. In particular, it is shown that the spin of the lens has an advective influence on the behavior of NBF at distances of several lens radii.