Five drifters in a Mediterranean salt lens

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1988

Abstract

Five neutrally buoyant drifters were set in the center of a Mediterranean salt lens to test the idea that they could "tag" and relocate it at a later time. All drifters remained trapped in the lens for their entire periods of submergence, two for 3 months and three for 6 months. The evidence that they did so is clear: they surfaced in groups, and their average temperatures were 3°C higher than is typical for their depth of operation. Detailed analysis of the pressure/temperature records indicate that one can observe the rotation of the lens due to its inclination in the large-scale baroclinic shear. The drifters were also an effective monitor of internal tide activity. A fortnightly modulation was evident. On one occassion the peak-to-peak internal displacement reached 80 m a few days after new moon. © 1988.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Deep Sea Research Part A, Oceanographic Research Papers

Volume

35

Issue

9

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