Effect of the North Equatorial Counter Current on the Generation and Propagation of Internal Solitary Waves Off the Amazon Shelf (SAR Observations)

. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from the Amazon shelf break region in the tropical west Atlantic reveals for the first time the two-dimensional horizontal structure of an intense Internal Solitary Wave (ISW) field, whose first surface manifestations are detected several hundred kilometres away from the nearest forcing bathymetry. Composite maps and an energy budget analysis (provided from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model – HYCOM) help to identify two major ISW pathways emanating from the steep slopes of a small promontory (or headland) near 44◦ W and 0 ◦ N, which are seen to extend for over 500 km into the open ocean. Further analysis in the SAR reveals propagation speeds above 3 m s−1 , which are amongst the fastest ever recorded. The main characteristics of the ISWs are further discussed based on a statistical analysis, and seasonal variability is found for one of the ISW sources. This seasonal variability is discussed in light of the North Equatorial Counter Current. The remote appearance of the ISW sea surface manifestations is explained by a late disintegration of the internal tide (IT), which is further investigated based on the SAR data and climatological monthly means (for stratification and currents). Acknowledging the possibility of a late disintegration of the IT may help explain the remote-sensing views of other ISWs in the world’s oceans

Soliton generation by internal tidal beams impinging on a pycnocline: laboratory experiments

In this paper, we present the first laboratory experiments that show the generation of internal solitary waves by the impingement of a quasi-two-dimensional internal wave beam on a pycnocline. These experiments were inspired by observations of internal solitary waves in the deep ocean from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, where this so-called mechanism of 'local generation' was argued to be at work, here in the form of internal tidal beams hitting the thermocline. Nonlinear processes involved here are found to be of two kinds. First, we observe the generation of a mean flow and higher harmonics at the location where the principal beam reflects from the surface and pycnocline; their characteristics are examined using particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Second, we observe internal solitary waves that appear in the pycnocline, detected with ultrasonic probes; they are further characterized by a bulge in the frequency spectrum, distinct from the higher harmonics. Finally, the relevance of our results for understanding ocean observations is discussed

Match internal load in youth elite soccer players is period, playing position and intermittent running capacity dependent

Aims: The aims of this study were: i) to verify whether player internal load (PIL) monitored via heart rate (HR) varies with game-time and playing position; ii) whether intermittent running capacity (IRC) is related to the maintenance of within-match PIL in elite youth (U-15) soccer players. Method: Twenty-one elite soccer players (14±0.5 yrs, 172±7 cm, 63±6 kg) had their heart rate monitored (beats/min) in five matches and were tested twice for IRC (Yo-YoIR2, distance [m]) over a seven-week competitive season. Percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax) and time spent (TS%) in five zones (Z1[96%]) were our PIL indexes. Data from three complete games in the same position of each player were analyzed and matches halves, time intervals (T1 to T6), and playing positions (fullbacks, central defenders and forwards [N=5 each], midfielders [N=6]) were compared, and the relationship between IRC and within-match PIL was determined. Results: PIL was higher in 1st (86±3%) than in the 2nd half (84±4%; p<.001). The 2nd half had more TS% in Z1 and Z2 (p<.05). PIL in T4 was the lowest (p<.01), and in T6, it was lower than T1 and T2 (p<.01). Fullbacks and midfielders showed higher PIL and higher TS% in Z4 (p<.05) than the other positional roles. The average IRC correlated with PIL in T6 (r=.56, p<.01) only. Conclusion: In conclusion, the internal load in elite youth (U-15) soccer players varies with game-time and playing position; and their IRC is related to the maintenance of within-match PIL

Validation of standard and alternative satellite ocean-color chlorophyll products off Western Iberia

Chlorophyll a concentration (Chl) product validation off theWestern Iberian coast is here undertaken by directly comparing remote sensing data with in situ surface reference values. Both standard and recently developed alternative algorithms are considered for match-up data analysis. The investigated standard products are those produced by the MERIS (algal 1 and algal 2) and MODIS (OC3M) algorithms. The alternative data products include those generatedwithin the CoastColour Project and Ocean Color Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) funded by ESA, as well as a neural net model trained with field measurements collected in the Atlantic off Portugal (MLPATLP). Statistical analyses showed that satellite Chl estimates tend to be larger than in situ reference values. The study also revealed that a non-uniform Chl distribution in the water column can be a concurring factor to the documented overestimation tendency when considering larger optical depth match-up stations. Among standard remote sensing products, MODIS OC3M and MERIS algal 2 yield the best agreement with in situ data. The performance of MLPATLP highlights the capability of regional solutions to further improve Chl retrieval by accounting for environmental specificities. Results also demonstrate the relevance of oceanographic regions such as the Nazaré area to evaluate how complex hydrodynamic conditions can influence the quality of Chl products.This studywas performed in the framework of HabSpot FCT Project, PTDC/MAR/100348/2008 and European Space Agency projects DUE CoastColour (ESRIN/AO/1-6141/09/l-EC) and Climate Change Iniciative — Ocean Color (AO-1/6207/09/I-LG). The work has been also partially supported by the European Space Agency within the framework of the MERIS Validation Activities under contract n. 12595/09/I-OL, and sampling activities benefited from European projects HERMES (GOCE-CT-2005-511234) and Hermione (EC contract 226354) support. We would like to thank NASA OBPG for the MODIS data and ESA Project AOPT-2423 for providing MERIS full resolution images. Ana C. Brito was funded by a Portuguese Post-doc grant from FCT (BPD/63017/2009) and by the Investigador FCT Program (IF/00331/2013). Davide D'Alimonte was funded by Investigador FCT Program (IF/00541/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Remote-sensing evidence for the local generation of internal soliton packets in the central Bay of Biscay

Large-amplitude internal solitary waves (or “solitons”) occurring in packets near the shelf break in the Bay of Biscay are well-documented and understood. The presence of similar features has now also been reported in the central Bay, ?150 km from the nearest shelf break topography. The present paper analyses available remote-sensing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from the ERS satellites in this region. By doing so, we are able to provide convincing support for the hypothesis that these waves, instead of having travelled along the thermocline from the shelf break, are instead generated locally in the central Bay by the surfacing of a beam of internal tidal energy originating from the shelf break. This reinforces the results of a previous independent study, while at the same time providing a much more extensive investigation than was then possible. We have also exploited the large swath width (100 km) and high spatial resolution (100 m×100 m) of the SAR to examine for the first time the full surface structure of the internal waves in the central Bay, which are found to have a mean wavelength of 1.35 km, and a mean along-crest “coherence” length of 21.55 km