Eddy-Scale Variability in the Northeastern Atlantic from RAFOS Floats

• Main Author: Lankhorst, Matthias
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: West European Basin; Iceland; Labrador Sea
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/14666/

Since the late 1990ies, the IfM Kiel and partners have carried out field observations using floats in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, achieving unprecedentedly high data densities. Data from RAFOS floats with daily fixes make an eddy-resolving look at the turbulent field possible, in addition to observing the more general circulation. The presentation focusses on the level of the Labrador Sea Water (circa 1500 m), where a distinct difference between the energetic Iceland Basin and the more quiet West European Basin further to the South is found. To point this out, Lagrangian time and length scales, eddy kinetic energy, and diffusivity are derived from the observations. A new, self-contained detection scheme for long-lived eddies in the trajectory data will be presented, featuring fits of auto-regressive processes to identify eddies and their major properties. Analyzing data from two projects (SFB 60,Eurofloat) with these tools reveals a comprehensive view of the dynamics at the given depth between approximately 35 and 65 degrees Northern latitude.