Using Lagrangian Coherent Structures To Identify Surface Oil Pathways In the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
4-3-2017
Department
Marine Science
School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Abstract
High frequency radar (HFR) can be used to predict particle trajectories in coastal surface waters; while HFR data has numerous applications, the need to track pollutant dispersal has special significance to coastal communities as well as researchers. This preliminary analysis explores the steps involved in calculating Lagrangian coherent structures for the Mississippi Bight using HFR datasets. Equipment malfunction and environmental interference cause fluctuations in the area covered by the HFRs, so the interpolation method 2dVar was used to provide spatially consistent velocity maps needed for LCS analysis. We ran a series of trials to examine which time steps and spatial scales are relevant to determining LCS for the period of May through July 2010; the chosen timeframe followed the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Since LCS serve to explain patterns in circulation dynamics, evaluating the HFR data for this period could explain surface oil dispersal near the northern Gulf coast.
Publication Title
Techno-Ocean 2016: Return to the Oceans
First Page
346
Last Page
349
Recommended Citation
Hode, L.,
Howden, S.
(2017). Using Lagrangian Coherent Structures To Identify Surface Oil Pathways In the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Techno-Ocean 2016: Return to the Oceans, 346-349.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19342
COinS