Comparison between Eulerian diagnostics and finite-size Lyapunov exponents computed from altimetry in the Algerian basin

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 submesoscale 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 instantaneaous and climatological transport and mixing properties. By comparing with sea-surface temperature patterns, we find that the two diagnostics 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 process occuring 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

Vortices of the Mediterranean Sea: An Altimetric Perspective

17 pages, 12 figures, 2 tablesThe presence of coherent vortices makes observed mesoscale fields of the ocean resemble two-dimensional turbulence. Using this analogy, a common definition of a coherent structure has been used to study the statistical properties of Mediterranean Sea vortices observed by satellite altimeters over a 7-yr period. A vortex has been defined as the simply connected region with values of the Okubo–Weiss parameter W < −0.2σW, where σW is the spatial standard deviation of W, and the same sign of vorticity. This definition is shown to be appropriate to detect and characterize, statistically, properties such as size, mean kinetic energy, and amplitude of vortices in the Mediterranean basin from sea level anomaly maps corresponding to the period from October 1992 to October 1999. The distribution of such properties for the Mediterranean vortices suggests a heuristic criterion to extract and select very coherent and long-lived vortices from the whole set of structures identified in altimetric maps. Such coherent vortices appear to be selected for amplitudes greater than 2σW, where the amplitude has been defined in terms of the Okubo–Weiss parameter rather than vorticity, and strongly correspond to those reported from observations with independent data. Systematic locating and tracking of such vortices provide, for the first time, a general picture of their preferential paths in the Mediterranean basin, which are characterized by complex but rather well defined patternsThis is a contribution to the IMAGEN project funded by the Spanish R+D Plan (REN2001-0802-C02-02) and MERSEA project funded by the European Union 6th Framework Program (AIP3-CT-2003-502885). Jordi Isern-Fontanet has been partially supported by contracts from IMAGEN and MERSEA projects. Altimetric maps for the period analyzed were elaborated and provided by CLS (Toulouse, France) under contract of the MATER project funded by the European Union MAST Program (MAS3-CT96-0051)Peer reviewe

Image registration techniques with multiresolution analysis in satellite oceanography

En aquest article es fa una descripció dels procediments realitzats per enregistrar dues imatges geomètricament, de forma automàtica, si es pren la primera com a imatge de referència. Es comparen els resultats obtinguts mitjançant tres mètodes. El primer mètode és el d’enregistrament clàssic en domini espacial maximitzant la correlació creuada (MCC)[1]. El segon mètode es basa en aplicar l’enregistrament MCC conjuntament amb un anàlisi multiescala a partir de transformades wavelet [2]. El tercer mètode és una variant de l’anterior que es situa a mig camí dels dos. Per cada un dels mètodes s’obté una estimació dels coeficients de la transformació que relaciona les dues imatges. A continuació es transforma per cada cas la segona imatge i es georeferencia respecte la primera. I per acabar es proposen unes mesures quantitatives que permeten discutir i comparar els resultats obtinguts amb cada mètode.In this paper we present processing techniques for automated image-to-image geometrical registration. One reference image is used to register the working image. Three methods are used. The first method is the classical image registration method using the maximum cross-correlation (MCC) in the spatial domain [1]. The second method is based on MCC and multiscale analysis through wavelet multiresolution techniques [2]. The third one is a fusion of the two previous methods. For each technique the transformation coefficients relating both images are estimated. Finally, the second image is transformed and georeferenced to the first one. In the conclusion, a proposal of quantitative parameters leads to a final discussion on the results.En este artículo se describen los procedimientos realizados para registrar geométricamente dos imágenes de forma automática si se toma la primera como imagen de referencia. Se comparan los resultados obtenidos mediante tres métodos. El primero es el método clásico para registrar dos imágenes en el dominio espacial maximizando la correlación cruzada (MCC) [1]. En el segundo se trata de aplicar de forma conjunta técnicas de análisis multiescalar, basadas en las transformaciones wavelet y el método MCC [2]. El tercero es una variación del segundo situada a medio camino de los dos métodos anteriores. Para cada método se obtiene una estimación de los coeficientes de la transformación que relaciona las dos imágenes. A continuación, se transforma la segunda imagen que se georreferencia respecto a la primera para cada caso. Para finalizar se proponen unas medidas cuantitativas que nos permiten discutir y comparar los resultados obtenidos en cada uno de los método

Limitaciones de los parámetros de las funciones de predación. Implicaciones para la iniciación de las proliferaciones de fitoplancton

Phytoplankton blooms are events of production and accumulation of phytoplankton biomass that influence ecosystem dynamics and may also have effects on socio-economic activities. Among the biological factors that affect bloom dynamics, prey selection by zooplankton may play an important role. Here we consider the initial state of development of an algal bloom and analyse how a reduced grazing pressure can allow an algal species with a lower intrinsic growth rate than a competitor to become dominant. We use a simple model with two microalgal species and one zooplankton grazer to derive general relationships between phytoplankton growth and zooplankton grazing. These relationships are applied to two common grazing response functions in order to deduce the mathematical constraints that the parameters of these functions must obey to allow the dominance of the lower growth rate competitor. To assess the usefulness of the deduced relationships in a more general framework, the results are applied in the context of a multispecies ecosystem model (ERSEM).Las proliferaciones de fitoplancton son eventos de producción y acumulación de biomasa de fitoplancton que tienen una fuerte influencia tanto en la dinámica del ecosistema como en actividades socioeconómicas. Entre los factores biológicos que afectan la dinámica de las proliferaciones fitoplanctónicas, la selección de presas por el zooplancton puede jugar un papel importante. En este trabajo consideramos el estado inicial de desarrollo de una proliferación algal considerando que la presión de la predación puede permitir a una especie de algas con una menor tasa de crecimiento intrínseco que un competidor, ser dominante. Utilizamos un modelo sencillo con dos especies de microalgas y un herbívoro (zooplancton) para deducir relaciones generales entre el crecimiento del fitoplancton y la predación. Estas relaciones se aplican a dos funciones de respuesta de predación para deducir las limitaciones matemáticas que los parámetros de estas funciones deben obedecer. Para evaluar la utilidad de las relaciones deducidas en un marco más general, los resultados se aplican a un modelo de múltiples especies del ecosistema marino (ERSEM)

Multifractal Method for the Instantaneous Evaluation of the Stream Function in Geophysical Flows

4 pages, 3 figuresMultifractal or multiaffine analysis is a promising new branch of methods in nonlinear physics for the study of turbulent flows and turbulentlike systems. In this Letter we present a new method based on the multifractal singularity extraction technique, the maximum singular stream-function method (MSSM), which provides a first order approximation to the stream function from experimental data in 2D turbulent systems. The essence of MSSM relies in relating statistical properties associated with the energy cascade in flows with geometrical properties. MSSM is a valuable tool to process sparse collections of data and to obtain instant estimates of the velocity field. We show an application of MSSM to oceanography as a way to obtain the current field from sea surface temperature satellite images; we validate the result with independent dynamical information obtained from sea level measurements. © 2005 The American Physical SocietyThis is a contribution to IMAGEN (Spanish R+D Plan: REN2001-0802-C02-02) and MERSEA projects (EU AIP3-CT-2003-502885). A. Turiel is contracted under the Ramon y Cajal program by the Spanish Ministry of Education. J. Isern-Fontanet is funded by the IMAGEN and MERSEA projectsPeer Reviewe

Modelling the deep-chlorophyll maximum: A coupled physical-biological approach

The Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM) is simulated in two oligotrophic regions (SW Sargasso Sea and NW Mediterranean) using a physical/biological model that couples an upper ocean turbulent model to a nutrient/phytoplankton model. The biological model considers two types of primary producers, heterotrophs and atmospheric in addition to internal nitrate inputs. Model results appear to adequately reproduce the DCM structure in those regions. The DCM depth and magnitude is mainly determined by the vertical eddy diffusion and light extinction. The grazing parameters mainly affect the intensity of the DCM. This suggest the DCM is primarily the result of a balance between upward nutrient flux and light field characteristics. Consequently, the regenerated production only plays a secondary role

Variabilidad de las masas de agua a pequeña escala en un cañón submarino (cañón del Besòs) en el NO del mar Mediterráneo

In this work we report short-term measurements of the thermohaline structure and velocity field inside a narrow submarine canyon by means of a yo-yo–like profiler. An Aqualog profiler was deployed inside the Besòs Canyon in the northwestern Mediterranean continental margin, providing a unique data set on the vertical evolution of water column characteristics with unprecedented fine-scale spatial and temporal resolution. The observations reported here show a very dynamic transient short-term response with a complex vertical structure not observed previously in any submarine canyon of this region. The vertical distribution of water masses was characteristic of the western Mediterranean basin with Atlantic waters (AW) at the surface, Western Intermediate waters (WIW) in the middle and Levantine Intermediate (LIW) waters below. Turner angle and empirical orthogonal functions show that double-diffusive and isopycnal mixing are the main dominant processes at small scales. The interfaces of the three layers exhibit highly vertical excursions in relatively short times. At the surface, deepening of AW was observed, associated with flow intensification events. Deeper in the water column, within the submarine canyon confinement, the WIW-LIW interface uplifts about 100-150 m. These motions are associated with relatively up- and down-canyon–enhanced current events (up to 15-20 cm s-1 at 500 and 800 m depths) along the canyon axis. The time scales of the vertical variability were concentrated in a broad band around the semi-diurnal and local inertial frequencies within the WIW and LIW layers.En este trabajo se muestran medidas a corto plazo de la estructura termohalina y del campo de velocidad dentro de un estrecho cañón submarino a través de un perfilador tipo yo-yo. Este perfilador Aqualog se desplegó dentro del cañón del Besòs en el noroeste del margen continental del Mediterráneo, proporcionando un conjunto de datos único sobre la evolución vertical de las características de la columna de agua, con una resolución espacial y temporal a escala fina sin precedentes. Las observaciones aportadas aquí muestran una respuesta de un periodo transitorio muy dinámico con una estructura vertical compleja no observada anteriormente en ningún cañón submarino de esta región. La distribución vertical de las masas de agua es característica de la cuenca mediterránea occidental con aguas del Atlántico (AW) en la superficie, aguas occidentales Intermedias (WIW) debajo de estas y aguas de Levante Intermedio (LIW) por debajo. Los ángulos de Turner calculados y sus EOFs muestran que la estabilidad a la difusión y mezcla isopicna son los principales procesos dominantes a escalas pequeñas. Las interfaces de las tres capas exhiben excursiones notablemente verticales en tiempos relativamente cortos. En la superficie, la profundización de AW se observó asociada a eventos de intensificación del flujo. A más profundidad en la columna de agua, dentro del régimen de cañón submarino, la interfase WIW-LIW se eleva unos 100-150 m. Tales movimientos se asocian al flujo de agua hacia arriba y hacia abajo del cañón (hasta 15-20 cm s-1 a 500 y 800 m de profundidad) a lo largo del eje del cañón. Las escalas de tiempo de variabilidad vertical aparecen concentradas en una amplia banda de frecuencias alrededor de los periodos inerciales semidiurnos y locales dentro de las capas WIW y LIW

Energia i societat

El present article inaugura una secció de la revista destinada a utilitzar eines i raonaments familiars als físics per analitzar problemes relacionats amb les interaccions entre energia i societat. Pretenem aportar algunes anàlisis de problemes d'actualitat en aquest camp, sense entrar excessivament en els detalls i les derivacions matemàtiques, però anant més enllà de la pura divulgació. Amb aquest article encetem, doncs, una sèrie que vol donar algunes idees sobre com la formació en física pot aportar una base sòlida per donar sortida laboral als estudiants actuals en un futur mercat que, amb les perspectives actuals i segons les previsions, es presenta canviant i amb uns escenaris notablement diferents del que havia estat fins ara

Energia i societat

El present article inaugura una secció de la revista destinada a utilitzar eines i raonaments familiars als físics per analitzar problemes relacionats amb les interaccions entre energia i societat. Pretenem aportar algunes anàlisis de problemes d'actualitat en aquest camp, sense entrar excessivament en els detalls i les derivacions matemàtiques, però anant més enllà de la pura divulgació. Amb aquest article encetem, doncs, una sèrie que vol donar algunes idees sobre com la formació en física pot aportar una base sòlida per donar sortida laboral als estudiants actuals en un futur mercat que, amb les perspectives actuals i segons les previsions, es presenta canviant i amb uns escenaris notablement diferents del que havia estat fins ara