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Surface current dynamics under sea breeze conditions observed by simultaneous HF radar, ADCP and drifter measurements

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Abstract

Ocean surface boundary layer dynamics off the southern coast of France in the NW Mediterranean is investigated by using velocity observations by high-frequency (HF) radars, surface drifting buoys and a downward-looking drifting acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The analysis confirms that velocities measured by HF radars correspond to those observed by an ADCP at the effective depth z f = k −1, where k is wavenumber of the radio wave emitted by the radar. The radials provided by the radars were in a very good agreement with in situ measurements, with the relative errors of 1 and 9 % and root mean square (RMS) differences of 0.02 and 0.04 m/s for monostatic and bistatic radar, respectively. The total radar-based velocities appeared to be slightly underestimated in magnitude and somewhat biased in direction. At the end of the survey period, the difference in the surface current direction, based on HF radar and ADCP data, attained 10°. It was demonstrated that the surface boundary layer dynamics cannot be reconstructed successfully without taking into the account velocity variation with depth. A significant misalignment of ∼30° caused by the sea breeze was documented between the HF radar (HFR-derived) surface current and the background current. It was also found that the ocean response to a moderate wind forcing was confined to the 4-m-thick upper layer. The respective Ekman current attained the maximum value of 0.15 m/s, and the current rotation was found to be lagging the wind by approximately 40 min, with the current vector direction being 15–20° to the left of the wind. The range of velocity variability due to wind forcing was found comparable with the magnitude of the background current variability.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support by the project LEFE “SUBCORAD” of the Institut Nationale des Sciences de l’Univers (INSU). The radar data were collected and processed at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO). We also acknowledge colleagues of MIO involved in the project: A. Molcard, J. Marmain, C. Quentin, Y. Barbin, L. Belomo and D. Malengros. The skill and experience of the skipper Eric Lecuyer and his help during the fieldwork are appreciated and acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Littoral - Côte d’Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, Laboratory of Oceanology and Geosciences, UMR 8187 LOG, 62930, Wimereux, France

    Alexei Sentchev

  2. Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Université de Toulon, Université Aix Marseille, CNRS/INSU, IRD, UM110, La Garde, France

    Philippe Forget & Philippe Fraunié

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  1. Alexei Sentchev
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  2. Philippe Forget
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  3. Philippe Fraunié
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Correspondence to Alexei Sentchev.

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Responsible Editor: Alexander Barth

This article is part of the Topical Collection on the 48th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics, Liège, Belgium, 23–27 May 2016

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Sentchev, A., Forget, P. & Fraunié, P. Surface current dynamics under sea breeze conditions observed by simultaneous HF radar, ADCP and drifter measurements. Ocean Dynamics 67, 499–512 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-017-1035-6

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