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Detailed Reference Information |
Dever, E.P., Hendershott, M.C. and Winant, C.D. (1998). Statistical aspects of surface drifter observations of circulation in the Santa Barbara Channel. Journal of Geophysical Research 103: doi: 10.1029/98JC02403. issn: 0148-0227. |
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Argos-tracked drifters are used to study the near-surface circulation in the Santa Barbara Channel. The mean consists of a cyclonic cell in the western Santa Barbara Channel with weaker flow in the eastern Channel. Drifter mean velocities agree well with record means from near-surface current meters. At the eastern entrance to the channel, drifter velocities are biased toward outflow (eastward velocity) conditions. Drifter variability at synoptic and seasonal scales shows a tendency for upwelling and eastward flow in spring, a strong cyclonic circulation in summer, poleward relaxation in fall, and weak, variable circulation in winter. Drifter estimates of eddy stress divergence indicate advective terms play a secondary role in the mean surface momentum balance. Lagrangian time and space scales are about 1 day and under 10 km, respectively. The mismatch between Lagrangian and Eulerian timescales indicates advective terms are important to the fluctuating circulation. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Oceanography, General, Marginal and semienclosed seas, Oceanography, Physical, Upper ocean processes, Oceanography, Physical, Eddies and mesoscale processes |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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