麻豆影院

Coherent structures in the ocean: identification and applications

Following听 the听 visualization听 of听 the听 ocean听 surface听 by听 satellites听 in听 the 1970鈥檚, progress has been made in understanding both the dynamics and biogeochemical/ecosystem听 effects of mesoscale听 ocean听 eddies. However, the听 role听 of听 these听 eddies听 in听 the听 global听 carbon听 cycle听 and听 how听 they听 impact ecosystem dynamics is highly uncertain, and the subject of much current observational听 and听 modeling听 effort.听 Here听 I听 report听 on听 recent听 advances听 in identifying eddies and their associated transport structures from applied dynamical听 systems听 theory,听 the听 so called听 Lagrangian听 coherent听 structure (LCS) approach. Applications of this methodology using observations and models听 of听 the听 California听 Current听 system,听 as听 well听 as听 the听 implications听 for ecosystem effects of coastal transport will be highlighted. New work exploring the role of mesoscale turbulence in structuring carbon export globally will be presented.