Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México

Submesoscale eddies (1-10 km diameter) were identified using surface velocity observations obtained from a high-frequency radar system (HFR) operated in Todos Santos Bay (TSB), Baja California, Mexico. Eddies were detected through a special case of the Okubo-Weiss parameter for divergent flows in t...

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Main Authors: Luis Felipe Navarro-Olache, Rafael Hernandez-Walls, Ruben Castro, Xavier Flores-Vidal, Ana Laura Flores-Morales, Beatriz Martin-Atienza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo 2022-12-01
Series:Ocean and Coastal Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/205305
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author Luis Felipe Navarro-Olache
Rafael Hernandez-Walls
Ruben Castro
Xavier Flores-Vidal
Ana Laura Flores-Morales
Beatriz Martin-Atienza
author_facet Luis Felipe Navarro-Olache
Rafael Hernandez-Walls
Ruben Castro
Xavier Flores-Vidal
Ana Laura Flores-Morales
Beatriz Martin-Atienza
author_sort Luis Felipe Navarro-Olache
collection DOAJ
description Submesoscale eddies (1-10 km diameter) were identified using surface velocity observations obtained from a high-frequency radar system (HFR) operated in Todos Santos Bay (TSB), Baja California, Mexico. Eddies were detected through a special case of the Okubo-Weiss parameter for divergent flows in the form of eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix. The detection method, applied for a surface velocity grid, shows encouraging results in the recognition and tracking of submesoscale features in TSB. The detection method is rapid and efficient. Results show the formation and persistence of an eddy structure inside the Bay in December 6, 2010, displaying a trajectory from NE to SW until disappearing at the center of the Bay. The eddy is approximately 4 km in diameter with a frequency of ~0.1f (f is the Coriolis parameter). The real part of the Okubo-Weiss parameter ranged between , and outlined the eddy for approximately 9 hours. Although it is difficult to identify the origin of the detected submesoscale eddy, its appearance coincided with a drop in relative atmospheric humidity suggesting land-ocean Santa Ana winds as a possible generating mechanism.
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issn 2675-2824
language English
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo
record_format Article
series Ocean and Coastal Research
spelling doaj-art-384f065676824f1183f18f04e063bfe32025-08-20T03:19:11ZengInstituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São PauloOcean and Coastal Research2675-28242022-12-0170Suppl. 110.1590/2675-2824070.22020lfnoEvidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, MéxicoLuis Felipe Navarro-OlacheRafael Hernandez-WallsRuben CastroXavier Flores-VidalAna Laura Flores-MoralesBeatriz Martin-Atienza Submesoscale eddies (1-10 km diameter) were identified using surface velocity observations obtained from a high-frequency radar system (HFR) operated in Todos Santos Bay (TSB), Baja California, Mexico. Eddies were detected through a special case of the Okubo-Weiss parameter for divergent flows in the form of eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix. The detection method, applied for a surface velocity grid, shows encouraging results in the recognition and tracking of submesoscale features in TSB. The detection method is rapid and efficient. Results show the formation and persistence of an eddy structure inside the Bay in December 6, 2010, displaying a trajectory from NE to SW until disappearing at the center of the Bay. The eddy is approximately 4 km in diameter with a frequency of ~0.1f (f is the Coriolis parameter). The real part of the Okubo-Weiss parameter ranged between , and outlined the eddy for approximately 9 hours. Although it is difficult to identify the origin of the detected submesoscale eddy, its appearance coincided with a drop in relative atmospheric humidity suggesting land-ocean Santa Ana winds as a possible generating mechanism. https://journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/205305HF velocity dataSubmesoscaleOkubo-Weiss parameterTodos Santos bay
spellingShingle Luis Felipe Navarro-Olache
Rafael Hernandez-Walls
Ruben Castro
Xavier Flores-Vidal
Ana Laura Flores-Morales
Beatriz Martin-Atienza
Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
Ocean and Coastal Research
HF velocity data
Submesoscale
Okubo-Weiss parameter
Todos Santos bay
title Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
title_full Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
title_fullStr Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
title_full_unstemmed Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
title_short Evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México
title_sort evidence of submesoscale coastal eddies inside todos santos bay baja california mexico
topic HF velocity data
Submesoscale
Okubo-Weiss parameter
Todos Santos bay
url https://journals.usp.br/ocr/article/view/205305
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