Abstract
Abstract. We analysed relative dispersion of surface drifters released as pairs (six instances) or triplets (two instances) during three field experiments conducted in the German Bight in close proximity to wind farms. There is some tentative evidence that nearly exponential growth of relative dispersion (non-local dispersion) preferably occurs for drifter pairs that are most exposed to the influence of a wind farm. Kinetic energy spectra and velocity structure functions are analysed with regard to the assumption that turbulent energy could be injected by tides, possibly also via an interaction between tidal currents and wind turbine towers. Applicability of inertial range turbulence theory, however, can be doubted given distinct peaks of overtides observed in velocity power spectra. More comprehensive studies would be needed to better separate submesoscale effects of wind farms, tides and possibly baroclinic instabilities on observed drifter behaviour in a complex coastal environment.
Highlights
Observing the spreading of drifters deployed pairwise is a powerful tool for analysing submesoscale flow structures
We analysed relative dispersion of surface drifters released as pairs or triplets during three field experiments conducted in the German Bight in close proximity to wind farms
There is some tentative evidence that nearly exponential growth of relative dispersion preferably occurs for drifter pairs that are most exposed to the influence of a wind farm
Summary
Observing the spreading of drifters deployed pairwise is a powerful tool for analysing submesoscale flow structures. From a theoretical point of view, studying mesoscale turbulent features helps understand the mechanisms of how energy in a 2-D quasi-geostrophic regime cascading towards larger scales (inverse energy cascade, see Charney, 1971) can lose geostrophic balance and be injected to the microscale, where it is dissipated (McWilliams, 2008). Another reason is a more practical one. In the latter case growth of a small-size oil slick, for instance, will exceed the rate predicted by traditional parameterisations in terms of hydrodynamic currents resolved in a model (Özgökmen et al, 2012)
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