Articles | Volume 8, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-885-2012
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-885-2012
Research article
 | 
19 Oct 2012
Research article |  | 19 Oct 2012

Towards high resolution mapping of 3-D mesoscale dynamics from observations

B. Buongiorno Nardelli, S. Guinehut, A. Pascual, Y. Drillet, S. Ruiz, and S. Mulet

Abstract. The MyOcean R&D project MESCLA (MEsoSCaLe dynamical Analysis through combined model, satellite and in situ data) was devoted to the high resolution 3-D retrieval of tracer and velocity fields in the oceans, based on the combination of in situ and satellite observations and quasi-geostrophic dynamical models. The retrieval techniques were also tested and compared with the output of a primitive equation model, with particular attention to the accuracy of the vertical velocity field as estimated through the Q vector formulation of the omega equation. The project focused on a test case, covering the region where the Gulf Stream separates from the US East Coast. This work demonstrated that innovative methods for the high resolution mapping of 3-D mesoscale dynamics from observations can be used to build the next generations of operational observation-based products.