Articles | Volume 21, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2555-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2555-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 22 Oct 2025
| 22 Oct 2025
Forcing-dependent submesoscale variability and subduction in a coastal sea area (Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea)
Department of Marine Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Germo Väli
Department of Marine Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Taavi Liblik
Department of Marine Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Urmas Lips
Department of Marine Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
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Short summary
We show that the presence of submesoscale processes depends on atmospheric forcing and is evident in both glider observations and high-resolution numerical simulations. Peak submesoscale variability was found near the base of the upper mixed layer in spring and within the thermocline in summer. Coastal upwelling and topographically induced frontal instabilities likely drove subduction and the downward transport of surface waters and tracers.
We show that the presence of submesoscale processes depends on atmospheric forcing and is...
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