Etude des flux turbulents à l'interface air-mer à partir de données de la plateforme OCARINA

Exchanges of heat and momentum at the air-sea interface play a major role in the formation and the dynamics of water and air masses. In spite of decades of research, we still need to improve our knowledge of these exchanges, and more specifically our knowledge of turbulent fluxes, which are key variables in meteorological and climate models. In these models, sub-grid turbulent processes, thus turbulent fluxes also have to be modeled, which is mostly done with the Monin-Obukhov (1954, MOS hereafter) similarity theory. However, on the one hand, the use of a model implies that coefficients have to be adjusted. On the other hand, the model itself may require improvements. Unfortunately, obtaining flux estimates that have a good accuracy is a challenging effort, because of the intrusive effect of the platform, the limited accuracy the instruments, and because the instruments have their own sampling volume.Our study focuses on the estimation of turbulent fluxes at sea from measurements made with the new OCARINA platform (autonomous trimaran) during two campaigns : STRASSE 2012 and AMOP 2014. We analyze the characteristics of turbulence in the surface boundary layer, we estimate the turbulent fluxes by different methods, and compare the values of fluxes depending on environmental conditions, taking into account the sea state.Les échanges de chaleur et de quantité de mouvement à l'interface-océan atmosphère jouent un rôle majeur dans la formation et la dynamique des masses d'air et d'eau. Malgré des décennies de recherche, nous avons encore besoin d'améliorer nos connaissances sur ces échanges, et plus spécifiquement nos connaissances sur les flux turbulents, qui sont des variables clés dans les modèles météorologiques et de climat. Dans ces modèles, les processus turbulents sont des processus sous-maille, non-résolus explicitement, ainsi les flux turbulents doivent être modélisés, au travers de paramétrisations, qui sont pour la plupart réalisées à partir de la théorie des similitudes de Monin-Obukhov [1954]. Cependant, d'une part, l'utilisation d'un modèle implique que les coefficients doivent être ajustés. D'autre part, le modèle lui-même peut demander des améliorations. Malheureusement, l'obtention d'estimations de flux avec une bonne précision est un gros défi, à cause des effets intrusifs de la plate-forme sur la mesure, de la précision limité des instruments et des capacités d'échantillonnages propres de chaque instrument.Notre étude porte sur l'estimation des flux turbulents en mer à partir de mesures réalisées avec la nouvelle plate-forme OCARINA (trimaran autonome) lors des campagnes STRASSE 2012 et AMOP 2014. Nous analysons les caractéristiques de la turbulence dans la couche limite de surface, nous estimons les flux turbulents par différentes méthodes, et nous comparons les valeurs des flux en fonction des conditions environnementales, en prenant en compte l'état de mer

Detection of subsurface eddies from satellite observations

International audienceThis study aims to develop an index that allows distinguishing between surface and subsurface intensified eddies from surface data only, in particular using the sea surface height and the sea surface temperature available from satellite observations. To do this, we propose the use of a simple index based on the ratio of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa) and the sea level anomaly (SLA). This index is first derived using an academic approach, based on idealized assumptions of geostrophic balance and Gaussian-shaped vortices. This index depends on the vertical extent (or decreasing rate) of the eddy and because of its sensitivity to the exact shape of the vortex, we were not able to evaluate these depths from the surface fields and our results remain qualitative. Then, in order to examine the pertinence and validity of the proposed index, SSTa and SLA were computed using outputs of a realistic regional circulation model in the Peru-Chile upwelling system where both surface and subsurface eddies coexist. Over a seven year simulation, the statistics shows that 71% of eddies are correctly identified as surface or subsurface intensified. Multi-core eddies are also largely present and represent an average of 37% of all vortices. These multi-core eddies contribute to a large number of the wrong identification (15%). Finally, the index was successfully applied on in-situ data to detect a previously observed subsurface-intensified Swoddy (slope water eddy) in the Bay of Biscay. This study suggests that the index can be successfully used to determine the exact nature of mesoscale eddies (surface or subsurface- intensified) from satellite observations only

Detection of subsurface eddies from satellite observations

International audienceThis study aims to develop an index that allows distinguishing between surface and subsurface intensified eddies from surface data only, in particular using the sea surface height and the sea surface temperature available from satellite observations. To do this, we propose the use of a simple index based on the ratio of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa) and the sea level anomaly (SLA). This index is first derived using an academic approach, based on idealized assumptions of geostrophic balance and Gaussian-shaped vortices. This index depends on the vertical extent (or decreasing rate) of the eddy and because of its sensitivity to the exact shape of the vortex, we were not able to evaluate these depths from the surface fields and our results remain qualitative. Then, in order to examine the pertinence and validity of the proposed index, SSTa and SLA were computed using outputs of a realistic regional circulation model in the Peru-Chile upwelling system where both surface and subsurface eddies coexist. Over a seven year simulation, the statistics shows that 71% of eddies are correctly identified as surface or subsurface intensified. Multi-core eddies are also largely present and represent an average of 37% of all vortices. These multi-core eddies contribute to a large number of the wrong identification (15%). Finally, the index was successfully applied on in-situ data to detect a previously observed subsurface-intensified Swoddy (slope water eddy) in the Bay of Biscay. This study suggests that the index can be successfully used to determine the exact nature of mesoscale eddies (surface or subsurface- intensified) from satellite observations only

Detection of subsurface eddies from satellite observations

International audienceThis study aims to develop an index that allows distinguishing between surface and subsurface intensified eddies from surface data only, in particular using the sea surface height and the sea surface temperature available from satellite observations. To do this, we propose the use of a simple index based on the ratio of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa) and the sea level anomaly (SLA). This index is first derived using an academic approach, based on idealized assumptions of geostrophic balance and Gaussian-shaped vortices. This index depends on the vertical extent (or decreasing rate) of the eddy and because of its sensitivity to the exact shape of the vortex, we were not able to evaluate these depths from the surface fields and our results remain qualitative. Then, in order to examine the pertinence and validity of the proposed index, SSTa and SLA were computed using outputs of a realistic regional circulation model in the Peru-Chile upwelling system where both surface and subsurface eddies coexist. Over a seven year simulation, the statistics shows that 71% of eddies are correctly identified as surface or subsurface intensified. Multi-core eddies are also largely present and represent an average of 37% of all vortices. These multi-core eddies contribute to a large number of the wrong identification (15%). Finally, the index was successfully applied on in-situ data to detect a previously observed subsurface-intensified Swoddy (slope water eddy) in the Bay of Biscay. This study suggests that the index can be successfully used to determine the exact nature of mesoscale eddies (surface or subsurface- intensified) from satellite observations only

Detection of subsurface eddies from satellite observations

International audienceThis study aims to develop an index that allows distinguishing between surface and subsurface intensified eddies from surface data only, in particular using the sea surface height and the sea surface temperature available from satellite observations. To do this, we propose the use of a simple index based on the ratio of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa) and the sea level anomaly (SLA). This index is first derived using an academic approach, based on idealized assumptions of geostrophic balance and Gaussian-shaped vortices. This index depends on the vertical extent (or decreasing rate) of the eddy and because of its sensitivity to the exact shape of the vortex, we were not able to evaluate these depths from the surface fields and our results remain qualitative. Then, in order to examine the pertinence and validity of the proposed index, SSTa and SLA were computed using outputs of a realistic regional circulation model in the Peru-Chile upwelling system where both surface and subsurface eddies coexist. Over a seven year simulation, the statistics shows that 71% of eddies are correctly identified as surface or subsurface intensified. Multi-core eddies are also largely present and represent an average of 37% of all vortices. These multi-core eddies contribute to a large number of the wrong identification (15%). Finally, the index was successfully applied on in-situ data to detect a previously observed subsurface-intensified Swoddy (slope water eddy) in the Bay of Biscay. This study suggests that the index can be successfully used to determine the exact nature of mesoscale eddies (surface or subsurface- intensified) from satellite observations only

HF Radar measurements at the Alderney Race

International audienc

HF Radar measurements at the Alderney Race

International audienc

HF Radar measurements at the Alderney Race

International audienc

Evaluating HF radar measurements at a highly energetic site

International audienc

Evaluating HF radar measurements at a highly energetic site

International audienc