Author(s): M. De Dominicis; G. Leuzzi; P. Monti; N. Pinardi
Linked Author(s): Giovanni Leuzzi
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: In recent years there has been a growth of interest for the prediction of particle trajectories in the sea. One of the most important applications is the forecast of oil spills in the open ocean and coastal seas. Transport and dispersion processes can be simulated using a Lagrangian particle tracking model coupled with Eulerian circulation models, such as the Mediterranean Forecasting System (MFS) and higher horizontal resolution regional models. Using this approach each particle displacement is described by an average and a fluctuating part. The first one represents the advection associated with the Eulerian current field while the second one describes the sub-grid scale diffusion, due to unresolved scales in Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs). The focus of this study is to correctly quantify the eddy diffusivity K and the Lagrangian time scales T, to be used as input parameters for dispersion oil spill models. Using a large database of drifters released in the Mediterranean Sea the Lagrangian mesoscale turbulence has been computed. K and T have been computed in specific regions of the Mediterranean Sea.
Year: 2010