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Mixing structures in the Mediterranean Sea from finite‐size Lyapunov exponents
Author(s) -
d'Ovidio Francesco,
Fernández Vicente,
HernándezGarcía Emilio,
López Cristóbal
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl020328
Subject(s) - lyapunov exponent , mixing (physics) , mediterranean sea , mesoscale meteorology , vortex , geology , circulation (fluid dynamics) , measure (data warehouse) , lyapunov function , statistical physics , physics , mechanics , mediterranean climate , climatology , geography , computer science , nonlinear system , archaeology , quantum mechanics , database
We characterize horizontal mixing and transport structures in the surface circulation of the Mediterranean Sea, as obtained from a primitive equation circulation model. We calculate the Finite Size Lyapunov Exponents (FSLEs) of the velocity data set, which give a direct measure of the local stirring. By proper election of the FSLE parameters, we focus on the mesoscale structures, locating a number of vortices embedded in an intricate network of high‐stretching lines. These lines control transport in the system. At the edge of the vortices, a dense tangle of line intersections appears, identifying strong mixing. The spatial distribution of FSLEs, averaged over one year, allows to classify areas in the Mediterranean basin according by their mixing activity. The space average of FSLEs on selected geographical regions gives a measure for quantifying and comparing the mixing seasonal variability.