Articles | Volume 21, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-3221-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-3221-2025
Research article
 | 
28 Nov 2025
Research article |  | 28 Nov 2025

Surface evolution and wind effects during a cyclonic eddy splitting event in the Balearic Sea

Sebastien Donnet, Helga S. Huntley, Maristella Berta, Luca Centurioni, Leo Middleton, Tamay Özgökmen, Pierre-Marie Poulain, Alex Kinsella, and Annalisa Griffa

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Preprint under review for ESSD
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Cited articles

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Asselin, O. and Young, W. R.: Penetration of Wind-Generated Near-Inertial Waves into a Turbulent Ocean, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 50, 1699–1716, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-19-0319.1, 2020. a
Berta, M., Griffa, A., Magaldi, M. G., Özgökmen, T. M., Poje, A. C., Haza, A. C., and Olascoaga, M. J.: Improved Surface Velocity and Trajectory Estimates in the Gulf of Mexico from Blended Satellite Altimetry and Drifter Data, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 32, 1880–1901, https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-14-00226.1, 2015. a
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Short summary
Oceanographic and atmospheric data is used to study the properties and evolution of an eddy in the Balearic Sea. During the period of observation, this eddy elongates and splits. The unusually dense set of observations from satellites, drifters, and ship-mounted instruments provide insight into this splitting process. In particular, the contribution from the wind is assessed. These mechanisms are known to impact the vertical exchanges of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and pollutants.
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