Articles | Volume 21, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-727-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-727-2025
Research article
 | 
03 Apr 2025
Research article |  | 03 Apr 2025

An estimate of the eddy diffusivity tensor from observed and simulated Lagrangian trajectories in the Benguela Upwelling System

Ria Oelerich, Birte Gülk, Julia Dräger-Dietel, and Alexa Griesel

Data sets

Particle Trajectories from 1/10 degree POP simulation in the Benguela upwelling region Alexa Griesel https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13710842

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Short summary
The study explores how unresolved motions in the Benguela upwelling region affect diffusivity estimates and the need for full diffusivity tensors in models. Using a scalar for lateral mixing can be inaccurate due to directional mixing. Analysis of buoys and simulations shows that diffusivity from particle pairs is lower than expected and that removing the mean flow improves estimates. The study shows the importance of full diffusivity tensors for better model mixing and reducing warm biases in models.
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