A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review
We review how ocean currents are measured (in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks), how they are inferred from satellite observations, and how they are simulated in ocean general circulation models (OGCMs). We then consider the value of these ‘direct’ (in situ) and ‘indirect’ (inferred, simulate...
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ftdeakinunifig:oai:figshare.com:article/20953657 2023-05-15T16:05:21+02:00 A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review S Fossette N Putman K Lohmann R Marsh Graeme Hays 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30058348 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_biologist_s_guide_to_assessing_ocean_currents_a_review/20953657 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30058348 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_biologist_s_guide_to_assessing_ocean_currents_a_review/20953657 All Rights Reserved Oceanography Ecology Zoology geostrophic Ekman drift dispersal orientation turtle marine mammal plankton argos satellite-tracking Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Marine & Freshwater Biology Environmental Sciences & Ecology LOGGERHEAD SEA-TURTLES POPULATION GENETIC-STRUCTURE PARTICLE TRACKING MODEL LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENT SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC CARETTA-CARETTA SURFACE CURRENTS GREEN TURTLES SATELLITE TELEMETRY Text Journal contribution 2012 ftdeakinunifig 2022-11-17T21:48:07Z We review how ocean currents are measured (in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks), how they are inferred from satellite observations, and how they are simulated in ocean general circulation models (OGCMs). We then consider the value of these ‘direct’ (in situ) and ‘indirect’ (inferred, simulated) approaches to biologists investigating current-induced drift of strong-swimming vertebrates as well as dispersion of small organisms in the open ocean. We subsequently describe 2 case studies. In the first, OGCM-simulated currents were compared with satellite-derived currents; analyses suggest that the 2 methods yield similar results, but that each has its own limitations and associated uncertainty. In the second analysis, numerical methods were tested using Lagrangian drifter buoys. Results indicated that currents simulated in OGCMs do not capture all details of buoy trajectories, but do successfully resolve most general aspects of current flows. We thus recommend that the errors and uncertainties in ocean current measurements, as well as limitations in spatial and temporal resolution of the surface current data, need to be considered in tracking studies that incorporate oceanographic data. Whenever possible, cross-validation of the different methods (e.g. indirect estimates versus buoy trajectories) should be undertaken before a decision is reached about which technique is best for a specific application. Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seal DRO - Deakin Research Online Pacific |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
DRO - Deakin Research Online |
op_collection_id |
ftdeakinunifig |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Oceanography Ecology Zoology geostrophic Ekman drift dispersal orientation turtle marine mammal plankton argos satellite-tracking Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Marine & Freshwater Biology Environmental Sciences & Ecology LOGGERHEAD SEA-TURTLES POPULATION GENETIC-STRUCTURE PARTICLE TRACKING MODEL LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENT SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC CARETTA-CARETTA SURFACE CURRENTS GREEN TURTLES SATELLITE TELEMETRY |
spellingShingle |
Oceanography Ecology Zoology geostrophic Ekman drift dispersal orientation turtle marine mammal plankton argos satellite-tracking Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Marine & Freshwater Biology Environmental Sciences & Ecology LOGGERHEAD SEA-TURTLES POPULATION GENETIC-STRUCTURE PARTICLE TRACKING MODEL LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENT SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC CARETTA-CARETTA SURFACE CURRENTS GREEN TURTLES SATELLITE TELEMETRY S Fossette N Putman K Lohmann R Marsh Graeme Hays A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
topic_facet |
Oceanography Ecology Zoology geostrophic Ekman drift dispersal orientation turtle marine mammal plankton argos satellite-tracking Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Marine & Freshwater Biology Environmental Sciences & Ecology LOGGERHEAD SEA-TURTLES POPULATION GENETIC-STRUCTURE PARTICLE TRACKING MODEL LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENT SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC CARETTA-CARETTA SURFACE CURRENTS GREEN TURTLES SATELLITE TELEMETRY |
description |
We review how ocean currents are measured (in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks), how they are inferred from satellite observations, and how they are simulated in ocean general circulation models (OGCMs). We then consider the value of these ‘direct’ (in situ) and ‘indirect’ (inferred, simulated) approaches to biologists investigating current-induced drift of strong-swimming vertebrates as well as dispersion of small organisms in the open ocean. We subsequently describe 2 case studies. In the first, OGCM-simulated currents were compared with satellite-derived currents; analyses suggest that the 2 methods yield similar results, but that each has its own limitations and associated uncertainty. In the second analysis, numerical methods were tested using Lagrangian drifter buoys. Results indicated that currents simulated in OGCMs do not capture all details of buoy trajectories, but do successfully resolve most general aspects of current flows. We thus recommend that the errors and uncertainties in ocean current measurements, as well as limitations in spatial and temporal resolution of the surface current data, need to be considered in tracking studies that incorporate oceanographic data. Whenever possible, cross-validation of the different methods (e.g. indirect estimates versus buoy trajectories) should be undertaken before a decision is reached about which technique is best for a specific application. |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
S Fossette N Putman K Lohmann R Marsh Graeme Hays |
author_facet |
S Fossette N Putman K Lohmann R Marsh Graeme Hays |
author_sort |
S Fossette |
title |
A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
title_short |
A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
title_full |
A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
title_fullStr |
A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
title_full_unstemmed |
A biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
title_sort |
biologist's guide to assessing ocean currents : a review |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30058348 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_biologist_s_guide_to_assessing_ocean_currents_a_review/20953657 |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seal |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seal |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30058348 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_biologist_s_guide_to_assessing_ocean_currents_a_review/20953657 |
op_rights |
All Rights Reserved |
_version_ |
1766401252524032000 |