Ocean Science
Ocean Science
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Articles | Volume 17, issue 5
Articles | Volume 17, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-1341-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-1341-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 17, issue 5
Research article
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01 Oct 2021
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 01 Oct 2021

Drifting dynamics of the bluebottle (Physalia physalis)

Daniel Lee, Amandine Schaeffer, and Sjoerd Groeskamp

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Short summary
The bluebottle (Physalia physalis), or Portuguese man o' war, is well known for the painful stings caused by its tentacles. Its drifting dynamics have not been widely explored, with previous studies using simple assumptions to calculate its drift. Considering similarities with a sailboat, we present a new theoretical model for the drifting speed and course of the bluebottle in different wind and ocean conditions, providing new insights into the parameterization of its complex drifting dynamics.
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