Oceanic submesoscales from satellite and in situ observations
Submesoscale features refers to fronts and currents that are 1–100 km in size. They are known to be associated with intense vertical velocities acting as a conduit between the atmosphere and ocean interior through which heat, carbon and other climatologicaly important gases enter the deep ocean.
Submesoscale fronts are difficult to observe in the ocean because of their small size and short lifetime (hours to days). Here we develop a methodology to study them from satellite observations of sea level height and in situ CTD data. We show that submesoscale motions generate upward heat transport from the ocean interior to the surface.
Submesoscale fronts are difficult to observe in the ocean because of their small size and short lifetime (hours to days). Here we develop a methodology to study them from satellite observations of sea level height and in situ CTD data. We show that submesoscale motions generate upward heat transport from the ocean interior to the surface.
Siegelman, L., Klein, P., Rivière, P., Thompson, A. F., Torres, H. S., Flexas, M., & Menemenlis, D. (2020). Enhanced upward heat transport at deep submesoscale ocean fronts. Nature Geoscience, 13(1), 50-55. [doi, pdf]
Siegelman, L., Klein, P., Thompson, A. F., Torres, H. S., & Menemenlis, D. (2020). Altimetry-based diagnosis of deep-reaching sub-mesoscale ocean fronts. Fluids, 5(3), 145. [doi, pdf]
Siegelman, L. (2019). Ageostrophic dynamics in the ocean interior (Doctoral dissertation, Université de Bretagne Occidentale). [doi, pdf]