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Based on Lagrangian analysis we have found a region in the northwestern Japan Sea north of the Subpolar Front where mesoscale eddies regularly form and circulate. The strong anticyclonic eddy, vertically extended to the bottom with multilayer core structure and extreme values of temperature and salinity was sampled in this region during the cruise of R/V Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev in May 2004. The altimetry-based eddy tracking showed that it had a life span of nine months with the size reaching 120 km. CTD observational data were used to explore the eddy's features and vertical structure. The eddy had a multilayer core with different thermohaline characteristics, was observed in this area for the first time and could be originated due to its interaction with the surrounding water. The evolution of the eddy, origin of water inside the eddy core and the water 'age' on every day of the eddy's life have been studied and analyzed with the help of altimetry-based Lagrangian indicators of water motion. Inspecting daily-computed Lagrangian maps, we documented the essential events in the evolution of the eddy including its formation, splitting, merger, entrainment and detrainment of water, erosion and eventual decay. All these observations have been verified with the infrared satellite images. It has been found that the surface core has been filled mainly with subtropical water originated in the southern flank of the Subpolar Front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of temperature, salinity, and currents in the Amazon River plume over a section in the open ocean of the western tropical North Atlantic (38°48′ W) are considered. The measurements were carried out using an AML Base X CTD probe in the upper layer and a flow-through system that measures salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a content in seawater while a vessel is on the way. The measurements were supplemented by velocity profiling using shipborne SADCP. Additionally, archived oceanographic data from the World Ocean Database (WOD18), data on satellite altimetry measurements (AVISO), and satellite salinity data from Aquarius and SMOS were used. It is shown that the width of the Amazon River plume is about 170–400 km and the depth of desalination is from 50 to 100 m. Surface salinity decreases compared to the background (36.1) by 0.25 in February and by more than 3.0 in September during the period of maximum development of the plume, which was determined from satellite measurements of surface salinity. Lagrangian modeling of the back-in-time advection of passive markers simulating freshwater particles was carried out. It was shown that the source of freshwater in the measurement area is discharge from the Amazon River. Amazon River freshwater covered a distance of 3300 km in 60–80 days. The estimate of freshwater transport in the plume was 0.02 Sv, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the mean river discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we utilize AVISO altimetry data, the GLORYS12V1 product, and the META3.2 DT Atlas to investigate the Benguela upwelling. By combining these three datasets, we explore the propagation of mesoscale eddies generated within the upwelling zone and examine the dispersion of particles originating from the upwelling zone. The geographical scope of our analysis is confined to the region between 10–36°S and 0–20°E. We employ Lagrangian analysis and the AMEDA approach to study the eddies formed in the upwelling zone. The diverse methods applied enable us to track the movement of upwelling fluid elements in the specified area. The identification of the upwelling zone relies on temperature and salinity gradients in the coastal region. The primary focus of this study revolves around mesoscale eddies emerging in the upwelling zone. We scrutinize the trajectories of cyclones and anticyclones as they propagate westward from the upwelling zone, highlighting variations in the number of upwelling-origin particles within these eddies. We observe distinctions in the locations of upwelling cells between cyclones and anticyclones. Our results indicate that among mesoscale eddies generated in the upwelling zone cyclones predominate. We show that Lagrangian particles, leaving the upwelling zone, propagate throughout the area under consideration. For these particles, we can determine the travel time from the upwelling zone from 1 to 365 days and distances of 500 km for cyclones and 300 km for anticyclones. We found that cyclones are more stable structures with a longer lifetime and with a longer distance traveled in contrast to anticyclones. We believe this is a distinctive feature of the eddies with upwelling origins in comparison with other mesoscale eddies in the area. Finally, we analyze the change of water properties inside the eddies after they leave the upwelling zone and show a significant renewal of vortex cores occurring after 1–2 months of their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of sub-mesoscale structures and vertical advection on the connectivity properties of the Baltic Sea using a Lagrangian approach. High-resolution flow fields from the General Estuarine Transport Model (GETM) were employed to compute Lagrangian trajectories, focusing on the influence of fine-scale structures on connectivity estimates. Six river mouths in the Baltic Sea served as initial positions for numerical particles, and trajectories were generated using flow fields with varying horizontal resolutions: 3D trajectories with 250m resolution as well as 2D trajectories with 250m and 1km resolutions. Several Lagrangian indices, such as mean transit time, arrival depths, and probability density functions of transit times, were analyzed to unravel the complex circulation of the Baltic Sea and highlight the substantial impact of submesoscale structures on numerical trajectories. Results indicate that in 2D simulations, particles exhibit faster movement on the eastern side of the Gotland Basin in high-resolution compared to coarse-resolution simulations. This difference is attributed to the stronger coastal current in high-resolution compared to coarse-resolution simulations. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of vertical advection on numerical particle motion within the Baltic Sea, considering the difference between 3D and 2D trajectories. Findings reveal that denser water in the eastern and south-eastern areas significantly affects particle dispersion in 3D simulations, resulting in increased transit times. Conversely, regions in the North-western part of the basin accelerate particle movement in 3D compared to the 2D simulations. Finally, we calculated the average residence time of numerical particles exiting the Baltic Sea through the Danish strait. Results show an average surface layer residence time of approximately 790 days over an eight-year integration period, highlighting the relatively slow water circulation in the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea basin. This prolonged residence time emphasizes the potential for the accumulation of pollutants. Overall, the study underscores the pivotal role of fine-scale structures in shaping the connectivity of the Baltic Sea, with implications for understanding and managing environmental challenges in this unique marine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the interannual and seasonal variations in the distribution of radioactive materials released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in the surface layer of the Kuroshio Extension (KE). Focusing on the contrasting flow conditions in 2015 (southward) and 2021 (northward) - significant oscillatory phases of the KE's mean flow axis - the research analyzes the impact of seasonal variations on particle transport pathways. The findings reveal distinct seasonal patterns: summer releases primarily follow the eastward KE movement, while winter releases exhibit a southward trajectory. The study further quantifies the transport timescales, demonstrating that particles can reach the Luzon Strait within 10 months, subsequently diverging northward along the Kuroshio and northwestward along the Kuroshio Branch Current, potentially entering the South China Sea within 13 months. This research contributes valuable insights into the seasonal dynamics governing the dispersion and transport of Fukushima-derived radioisotopes in the surface ocean, highlighting the crucial role of the KE in influencing their trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Lagrangian-based one-dimensional approach has been applied, using Cantera libraries, to study the dynamics of spherically expanding flames. Detailed reaction models have been employed to examine spherical flame propagation in hydrogen-air mixtures. In the first part, our approach was validated against laminar flame speed and Markstein number data from the literature. It was shown that the laminar flame speed was predicted within 5% on average but that significant discrepancies were observed for the Markstein number, especially for rich mixtures. This suggests that even application of detailed reaction models can lead to inaccurate prediction of the stability of rich flames, which can be detrimental to the prediction of flame acceleration and the deflagration to detonation transition process. In the second part, a detailed analysis of the thermo-chemical dynamics along the path of Lagrangian particles propagating in stretched flames was performed. For mixtures with negative Markstein lengths, it was found that at high stretch rates, the mixture entering the reaction-dominated period is less lean with respect to the initial mixture than at low stretch rates. This induces faster rates of chemical heat release and active radical production which results in higher flame propagation speed. Opposite effects were observed for mixtures with positive Markstein lengths, for which slower flame propagation was observed at high stretch rates compared to low stretch rates. • Unsteady 1D Lagrangian approach to study spherically expanding H2-air flames. • Compared flame speeds and Markstein (Ma) numbers to experiments for 0.3< ϕ < 5. • In general, flame speeds and Ma captured, but Ma in rich mixtures had discrepancies. • High stretch rates in lean mixtures form less-lean conditions and faster flame speeds. • High stretch rates in rich mixtures form richer conditions and slower flame speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial heterogeneity or "patchiness" of plankton distributions in the ocean has always been an attractive and challenging scientific issue to oceanographers. We focused on the accumulation and dynamic mechanism of the Acetes chinensis in the Lianyungang nearshore licensed fishing area. The Lagrangian frame approaches including the Lagrangian coherent structures theory, Lagrangian residual current, and Lagrangian particle-tracking model were applied to find the transport pathways and aggregation characteristics of Acetes chinensis. There exist some material transport pathways for Acetes chinensis passing through the licensed fishing area, and Acetes chinensis is easy to accumulate in the licensed fishing area. The main mechanism forming this distribution pattern is the local circulation induced by the nonlinear interaction of topography and tidal flow. Both the Lagrangian coherent structure analysis and the particle trajectory tracking indicate that Acetes chinensis in the licensed fishing area come from the nearshore estuary. This work contributed to the adjustment of licensed fishing area and the efficient utilization of fishery resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of sub-mesoscale structures and vertical advection on the connectivity properties of the Baltic Sea using a Lagrangian approach. High-resolution flow fields from the General Estuarine Transport Model (GETM) were employed to compute Lagrangian trajectories, focusing on the influence of fine-scale structures on connectivity estimates. Six river mouths in the Baltic Sea served as initial positions for numerical particles, and trajectories were generated using flow fields with varying horizontal resolutions: 3D trajectories with 250m resolution as well as 2D trajectories with 250m and 1km resolutions. Several Lagrangian indices, such as mean transit time, arrival depths, and probability density functions of transit times, were analyzed to unravel the complex circulation of the Baltic Sea and highlight the substantial impact of sub-mesoscale structures on numerical trajectories. Results indicate that in 2D simulations, particles exhibit faster movement on the eastern side of the Gotland Basin in high-resolution compared to coarse-resolution simulations. This difference is attributed to the stronger coastal current in high-resolution compared to coarse-resolution simulations. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of vertical advection on numerical particle motion within the Baltic Sea, considering the difference between 3D and 2D trajectories. Findings reveal that denser water in the eastern and south-eastern areas significantly affects particle dispersion in 3D simulations, resulting in increased transit times. Conversely, regions in the North-western part of the basin accelerate particle movement in 3D compared to the 2D simulations. Finally, we calculated the average residence time of numerical particles exiting the Baltic Sea through the Danish strait. Results show an average surface layer residence time of approximately 790 days over an eight-year integration period, highlighting the relatively slow water circulation in the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea basin. This prolonged residence time emphasizes the potential for the accumulation of pollutants. Overall, the study underscores the pivotal role of fine-scale structures in shaping the connectivity of the Baltic Sea, with implications for understanding and managing environmental challenges in this unique marine ecosystem.

Quantitative methods to pinpoint the origin of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) associated with heatwaves are pivotal for the construction of physically plausible synoptic storylines of heatwave formation and their evaluation in models. Here, we combine a Lagrangian T′ decomposition with concepts from moisture tracking techniques to identify where and when the principal physical processes generate T′ and to attribute these sources to synoptic weather systems. Applying this framework to near‐surface and free‐tropospheric T′ associated with the record‐shattering 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest shows that ascending, diabatic air streams in North Pacific cyclones contribute more than 50% of free‐tropospheric T′, whereas near‐surface T′ is mainly produced by local subsidence and diabatic heating with only marginal upstream contributions. Since free‐tropospheric T′ facilitates near‐surface accumulation of locally produced T′ by rendering the atmosphere stable to moist convection, our findings corroborate the notion of top‐down induced heatwave formation fueled by upstream diabatic processes. Plain Language Summary: Heatwaves, characterized by strongly above normal air temperatures, are amongst the most severe weather related threats to human lives and economic activities. Understanding the processes causing heatwaves and evaluating their representation in climate models requires suitable quantitative methods to diagnose the process' contributions to temperature anomalies. While it is well established which physical processes can create positive temperature anomalies, that is, transport of air from climatologically warmer regions, warming of air as it is compressed in sinking motion, and heating, for example, by a hot surface, it remains challenging to diagnose where and when these processes create temperature anomalies. Here, we present a quantitative framework based on the tracking of air parcels that allows us to obtain this kind of information. Applying this method to a recent devastating heatwave in the Pacific Northwest, we show that even though the air at the surface acquired its temperature anomaly mainly by local heating, storms over the North Pacific contributed substantially to warming the air aloft. This anomalously warm air aloft, in turn, was a pre‐requisite for the extreme accumulation of heat near the surface by suppressing the formation of thunderstorms, which would have had a cooling effect. Key Points: Novel diagnostic framework quantifies sources of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) generated by principal physical processesUpstream warm conveyor belts (WCBs) contributed >50% of free‐tropospheric T′ and <15% of near‐surface T′ to the 2021 Pacific Northwest (PNW) heatwaveImportance of upstream sources of free‐tropospheric T′ corroborate top‐down induced formation of PNW heatwave fueled by WCBs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of temperature, salinity, and currents in the Amazon River plume over a section in the open ocean of the western tropical North Atlantic (38°48′ W) are considered. The measurements were carried out using an AML Base X CTD probe in the upper layer and a flow-through system that measures salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a content in seawater while a vessel is on the way. The measurements were supplemented by velocity profiling using shipborne SADCP. Additionally, archived oceanographic data from the World Ocean Database (WOD18), data on satellite altimetry measurements (AVISO), and satellite salinity data from Aquarius and SMOS were used. It is shown that the width of the Amazon River plume is about 170–400 km and the depth of desalination is from 50 to 100 m. Surface salinity decreases compared to the background (36.1) by 0.25 in February and by more than 3.0 in September during the period of maximum development of the plume, which was determined from satellite measurements of surface salinity. Lagrangian modeling of the back-in-time advection of passive markers simulating freshwater particles was carried out. It was shown that the source of freshwater in the measurement area is discharge from the Amazon River. Amazon River freshwater covered a distance of 3300 km in 60–80 days. The estimate of freshwater transport in the plume was 0.02 Sv, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the mean river discharge.

Abstract Quantitative methods to pinpoint the origin of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) associated with heatwaves are pivotal for the construction of physically plausible synoptic storylines of heatwave formation and their evaluation in models. Here, we combine a Lagrangian T′ decomposition with concepts from moisture tracking techniques to identify where and when the principal physical processes generate T′ and to attribute these sources to synoptic weather systems. Applying this framework to near‐surface and free‐tropospheric T′ associated with the record‐shattering 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest shows that ascending, diabatic air streams in North Pacific cyclones contribute more than 50% of free‐tropospheric T′, whereas near‐surface T′ is mainly produced by local subsidence and diabatic heating with only marginal upstream contributions. Since free‐tropospheric T′ facilitates near‐surface accumulation of locally produced T′ by rendering the atmosphere stable to moist convection, our findings corroborate the notion of top‐down induced heatwave formation fueled by upstream diabatic processes.

This case study demonstrates how water transformation in a secluded bay can be investigated using a range of Lagrangian analysis methods that can be calculated with a mass-conserving Lagrangian trajectory model. The study focuses on analysing the water mass transformation and overturning circulation in the Gulf of Gabès. The gradual transformation of water masses flowing through the Gulf was analysed using model-simulated Lagrangian trajectories. It was found that the overturning circulation in the Gulf gradually deepens, although it is falsely exaggerated by up to 50 metres when computed as a simple longitude-depth Lagrangian stream function. The Lagrangian method enabled the determination of the spatial dependence of transit time. The analysis revealed that most of the water in the Gulf has a transit time short enough to adjust to seasonal variability. However, in the innermost part of the Gulf, there exists an anticyclonic vortex that tends to trap water on longer timescales, preventing it from adjusting to seasonal variability. The trajectories were computed using velocity and mass transport fields from a high-resolution (1/96°) hydrodynamic ROMS model, which includes the relatively strong tides in this region of the Mediterranean.

In this paper, we study the region of the Agulhas leakage origin. The study region is limited by 20–46° S, 0–24° E; it includes the Cape Basin and is crossed by Walvis Ridge. This region is characterized by high dynamic activity of mesoscale eddies and variability of hydrographic parameters in a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The main element of large-scale circulation is represented by a phenomenon called the Agulhas leakage which is influenced by the South Atlantic Gyre, Benguela Current, and Benguela upwelling. Water particles of various origins are mixed and affect the thermohaline properties of mesoscale eddies, which form a source of the Agulhas leakage. We divided the region into three zones and showed that eddies and their properties differ in each of them. The Agulhas leakage is formed only by long-lived eddies, mainly anticyclones, while cyclones have smaller trajectories and shorter lifespans. In this research, we apply statistical analysis using AMEDA (Angular Momentum Eddy Detection Algorithm), Lagrangian analysis, and the study of vertical thermohaline cross-sections. We establish that in the Cape Basin, the waters of the Agulhas leakage mix with waters of the South Atlantic Gyre and the Benguela Current, and the thermohaline properties of the Agulhas eddies change since the warm and salty waters of the Indian Ocean mix with fresher and colder ones of the Atlantic Ocean. The water particles of the South Atlantic Gyre cross the western border of the region and travel a distance exceeding 500 km in the eastern direction mixing with other particles. We demonstrate that the eddies generated in the Cape Basin are also significantly influenced by the waters of the South Atlantic Gyre. These waters are transported to the Cape Basin region from the west and southwest. This explains the existence of a two-mode water structure noted by other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by deploying six millions virtual Lagrangian parcels at the Strait of Gibraltar, and tracing them backward in time using velocity estimates from an eddy‐permitting reanalysis. The Lagrangian parcels are followed until they intercept one of three sections. The hypothesis is that each section is associated with distinct water masses: the Gulf of Lions, related to Western Mediterranean Deep Water and Western Intermediate Water, carries 86% of the Outflow's transport; the Northern Tyrrhenian, related to Tyrrhenian Deep and Intermediate Waters, carries 1% of the transport; the Strait of Sicily, related to Levantine Intermediate Waters, carries 13% of the transport. The median transit times from the sections to the Strait of Gibraltar range from 5 years (Gulf of Lions) to 8 years (Strait of Sicily). Plain Language Summary: Parcel trajectories are used to trace water masses from the Western Mediterranean Sea to the Mediterranean Sea outflow at the Strait of Gibraltar. The velocity advecting the parcels is an estimate combining observations with an ocean circulation model that conserves mass, momentum, temperature and salinity. It is found that 86% of the parcels in the Mediterranean Sea outflow originate from the Gulf of Lions, typically taking 5 years for the journey, while 13% originates from the Strait of Sicily, typically taking 8 years to complete the trip. Key Points: Eighty‐six percent of Mediterranean outflow originates from the Gulf of Lions, and 13% originates from the Strait of SicilyThese two components of the outflow have distinct T‐S distributions at the origin, but the distinction is lost when Gibraltar is reachedMedian transit times to the Strait of Gibraltar are 5 years from the Gulf of Lions and 8 years from the Strait of Sicily [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lagrangian representation of fluid flows offers a natural perspective to study many kinds of physical mechanisms. By contrast, the Eulerian representation is more convenient from a diagnostic point of view. This article attempts to combine elements of both worlds by proposing an Eulerian method that allows one to extract Lagrangian information about the atmospheric flow. The method is based on the offline advection of passive tracer fields and includes a relaxation term. The latter device allows one to run the integration in a continuous fashion without the need for reinitialization. As a result one obtains accumulated Lagrangian information, for example, about the recent parcel displacement or the recent parcel‐based diabatic heating, at each point of an Eulerian grid at any time step. The method is implemented with a pseudospectral algorithm suitable for gridded global atmospheric data and compared with the more traditional trajectory method. The method's utility is demonstrated on the basis of a few examples, which relate to cloud formation and the development of temperature anomalies. The examples highlight that the method provides a convenient diagnostic of parcel‐based changes, paving an intuitive way to explore the physical processes involved. Due to its gridpoint‐based nature, the proposed method can be applied to large data sets in a straightforward and computationally efficient manner, suggesting that the method is particularly useful for climatological analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The origin of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by deploying six millions virtual Lagrangian parcels at the Strait of Gibraltar, and tracing them backward in time using velocity estimates from an eddy‐permitting reanalysis. The Lagrangian parcels are followed until they intercept one of three sections. The hypothesis is that each section is associated with distinct water masses: the Gulf of Lions, related to Western Mediterranean Deep Water and Western Intermediate Water, carries 86% of the Outflow's transport; the Northern Tyrrhenian, related to Tyrrhenian Deep and Intermediate Waters, carries 1% of the transport; the Strait of Sicily, related to Levantine Intermediate Waters, carries 13% of the transport. The median transit times from the sections to the Strait of Gibraltar range from 5 years (Gulf of Lions) to 8 years (Strait of Sicily).

Kinematic backward trajectories are used to globally quantify the contributions of temperature advection, adiabatic compression and diabatic processes to near‐surface temperature anomalies (hereafter T′ ${T}^{\prime }$) during the coldest day of each year (TN1day events) based on ERA5. Diabatic cooling dominates TN1day anomalies in the climatologically coldest regions, while advection forms TN1day anomalies over most ocean regions. Over most extratropical land masses, TN1day anomalies arise from a combination of both processes. The mean age and formation distance of TN1day anomalies vary strongly in space, from one to 8 days, and 500–5,500 km, respectively. Five distinct types of TN1day events are identified from these physical and spatio‐temporal characteristics, and their geographical occurrence is investigated. Furthermore, advective, adiabatic and diabatic contributions typically cancel each other partially, but less so for the most intense TN1day events, which occur when the atmosphere's ability to dampen near‐surface temperature anomalies is limited. Plain Language Summary: This study globally quantifies the relative importance of the two physical processes that lead to large negative temperature anomalies during cold extremes at the Earth's surface. These are, first, cold air advection, that is, the transport of air from climatologically cold to warmer regions and, second, so‐called diabatic cooling which refers to cooling of the air by radiation, turbulence and processes related to phase changes of water in the air. Here, their relative importance is quantified by tracing roughly 250'000'000 air parcels contributing to cold extremes backwards in time. Cold air advection is globally the dominant process for cold extreme formation, in particular over ocean regions. Over land regions, however, the importance of diabatic cooling gradually increases toward the climatologically coldest regions. The temporal and spatial scales over which these anomalies form vary from less than a day (in tropical Africa) to more than 8 days (in Siberia), and from less than 500 km (in tropical Africa) to more than 5,000 km (in subtropical regions), respectively. The results of this study for the first time provide a global picture of how cold extremes form and will enable us to better evaluate climate models with regard to cold extreme formation. Key Points: Using kinematic backward trajectories, the physical processes contributing to near‐surface cold extremes are quantified globallyAdvection dominates over oceans, and over land the importance of diabatic cooling increases toward the climatologically coldest regionsThe most intense cold extremes form in situations with a limited ability of the atmosphere to dampen negative temperature anomalies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teleconnection patterns are an important feature influencing the variability of moisture transport. This study explores the influence of the Arctic, Antarctic, Pacific‐North American, and El Niño–Southern Oscillations on moisture transport from major oceanic and continental moisture sources during the peak precipitation month. The positive phase of the Pacific‐North American teleconnection pattern increases the influence of Pacific Ocean moisture on western North America, while the negative phase increases the influence of Atlantic Ocean moisture over eastern North America, with differences between phases higher than 1.5 mm·day−1 over most of the area when the sources are the preferred. The positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation increases the importance of the Mediterranean as a source of moisture for western Europe while the negative phase increases the importance of the North Atlantic as a source with contribution increased in more than 2 mm·day−1 over Europe. The positive phase of the Antarctic Oscillation favours the contribution from the western Indian basin over eastern Africa, while in the negative phase the contribution from the southern Pacific is increased over northwestern Africa. For El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the main influence occurs over South America during El Niño events, increasing the moisture contributions from the South Pacific Ocean over southern South America and from South Atlantic over southeastern Brazil. El Niño events also increase the moisture transport from the North Atlantic over western Europe and from the North Pacific over North America. In contrast, La Niña events increase moisture contributions from the Pacific over Central America and northern South America, being the latter the area when higher differences between phases are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study demonstrates how water transformation in a secluded bay can be investigated using a range of Lagrangian analysis methods that can be calculated with a mass-conserving Lagrangian trajectory model. The study focuses on analysing the water mass transformation and overturning circulation in the Gulf of Gabes. The gradual transformation of water masses flowing through the Gulf was analysed using model-simulated Lagrangian trajectories. It was found that the overturning circulation in the Gulf gradually deepens, although it is falsely exaggerated by up to 50 metres when computed as a simple longitude-depth Lagrangian stream function. The Lagrangian method enabled the determination of the spatial dependence of transit time. The analysis revealed that most of the water in the Gulf has a transit time short enough to adjust to seasonal variability. However, in the innermost part of the Gulf, there exists an anticyclonic vortex that tends to trap water on longer timescales, preventing it from adjusting to seasonal variability. The trajectories were computed using velocity and mass transport fields from a high-resolution (1/96°) hydrodynamic ROMS model, which includes the relatively strong tides in this region of the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Kinematic backward trajectories are used to globally quantify the contributions of temperature advection, adiabatic compression and diabatic processes to near‐surface temperature anomalies (hereafter T′) during the coldest day of each year (TN1day events) based on ERA5. Diabatic cooling dominates TN1day anomalies in the climatologically coldest regions, while advection forms TN1day anomalies over most ocean regions. Over most extratropical land masses, TN1day anomalies arise from a combination of both processes. The mean age and formation distance of TN1day anomalies vary strongly in space, from one to 8 days, and 500–5,500 km, respectively. Five distinct types of TN1day events are identified from these physical and spatio‐temporal characteristics, and their geographical occurrence is investigated. Furthermore, advective, adiabatic and diabatic contributions typically cancel each other partially, but less so for the most intense TN1day events, which occur when the atmosphere's ability to dampen near‐surface temperature anomalies is limited.

The aim of this study is to trace how the fine-thermohaline and kinematic structure, formed over a section along 45.8° S in the interaction zone of the outer Patagonian Shelf (PS) and Malvinas (Falkland) Current (MC) System waters, affect the spatial distribution of bio-optical characteristics, phyto/zooplankton, birds, and marine mammals. For the first time, simultaneous multidisciplinary observations at high spatial resolution (~2.5 km) were performed in this region during the cruise of the R/V "Akademic Mstislav Keldysh" in February 2022. A fine structure of alternating upwelling and downwelling zones over the PS and slope was identified, which resulted from the interaction between the MC inshore branch (MCi), bottom topography, and wind. This interaction significantly affects all the physical, and optical characteristics analyzed in the work, as well as the biota of the region. It was found that the euphotic zone is larger in the downwelling zones than in the upwelling zones, and all spatially local maxima of phytoplankton photosynthetic efficiency are observed in the zones between upwelling and downwelling. Phytoplankton along the section were represented by 43 species. A total of 30 zooplankton species/taxa were identified. Three species of marine mammals and 11 species of birds were recorded in the study site. Most of the phytoplankton species list were formed by dinoflagellates, and picoplankton Prasinoderma colonial quantitatively dominated everywhere. Two floristic and three assemblage groups were distinguished among the analyzed phytoplankton communities. High phytoplankton biodiversity was observed above the PS and low above the PS edge and in the MCi core. Copepods mostly dominated in zooplankton. Subantarctic species/taxa of zooplankton concentrated in the nearshore waters of the PS, while Antarctic species/taxa were most abundant in the zone between the MCi and the MC offshore branch (MCo). The relative abundance of birds in the PS was several times higher than in the MCo. The minimum abundance of birds was in the MCi in the zone of the strongest upwelling identified above the PS edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of individuals and groups of users offloading independent and inter-related computational tasks to mobile edge computing (MEC) servers is rapidly increasing, thus overloading them and raising the risk of service interruptions. Hence, reactive service replication has been suggested to enable individuals and groups of users to access services from remote edge servers, thus guaranteeing system scalability. This paper proposes a task offloading and service replication scheme on local and remote MEC servers. The scheme minimizes the response time of all users while satisfying the delay requirements of user groups in traffic-heavy and multimedia-intense applications (e.g., online gaming, multimedia conferencing, augmenting reality). We formulate an integer linear problem that minimizes the average response time of all users while satisfying the time and time difference constraints of the user groups running the same applications. We then use linear relaxation programming using Lagrangian analysis and solve the problem using a numerical solver. In addition, we compare the optimal solution to distance-based and resource-based greedy approaches. The results demonstrate the merits of our proposed optimized decision scheme compared to these two greedy approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic model, this study explored the seasonal hydrodynamic transport structure in the Pearl River Estuary and illustrated the intrinsic connectivity under multiscale motions from a Lagrangian perspective. Generally, the surface Lagrangian residual current (UL) is uniformly southwestward/southeastward in summer/winter, with a stronger intensity in the lower estuary. The bottom UL features in the southeastward direction in the upper estuary and northwest direction in the lower estuary. The fluvial–tide interaction line advances southeastward and northwestward in summer and winter, respectively. The UL captured the major transport processes and was in good agreement with the mean surface sediment transport patterns. In the transition region between Lantau Island and Neilingding Island, where it is largely affected by the interaction between the periodic tidal current and river discharge, the spatially averaged UL showed intensified intratidal variations and had a larger difference with the locally temporally averaged Eulerian residual current. The remarkable Lagrangian coherent structures that illustrated the transport paths and transport convergence regions were identified, which are generally consistent with the bottom sediment depocenters. Based on the Lagrangian connectivity analysis, it was revealed that a barrier between the western and eastern estuaries existed, which was weakened by the strong river discharge during summer. Two convergence regions near the Macau and Hong Kong waters were identified, where the sediment and pollutants easily settled. The study demonstrated the importance of the Lagrangian view in understanding the hydrodynamic process and transport structure in the estuary–shelf regions.

Having a profound influence on marine and coastal environments worldwide, jellyfish hold significant scientific, economic, and public interest. 1,2,3,4,5 The predictability of outbreaks and dispersion of jellyfish is limited by a fundamental gap in our understanding of their movement. Although there is evidence that jellyfish may actively affect their position, 6,7,8,9,10 the role of active swimming in controlling jellyfish movement, and the characteristics of jellyfish swimming behavior, are not well understood. Consequently, jellyfish are often regarded as passively drifting or randomly moving organisms, both conceptually 2,11 and in process studies. 12,13,14 Here we show that the movement of jellyfish is modulated by distinctly directional swimming patterns that are oriented away from the coast and against the direction of surface gravity waves. Taking a Lagrangian viewpoint from drone videos that allows the tracking of multiple adjacent jellyfish, and focusing on the scyphozoan jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica as a model organism, we show that the behavior of individual jellyfish translates into a synchronized directional swimming of the aggregation as a whole. Numerical simulations show that this counter-wave swimming behavior results in biased correlated random-walk movement patterns that reduce the risk of stranding, thus providing jellyfish with an adaptive advantage critical to their survival. Our results emphasize the importance of active swimming in regulating jellyfish movement and open the way for a more accurate representation in model studies, thus improving the predictability of jellyfish outbreaks and their dispersion and contributing to our ability to mitigate their possible impact on coastal infrastructure and populations. • Jellyfish swimming is oriented away from the coast and against the waves • Jellyfish swimming results in biased correlated random-walk movement patterns • Movement patterns reduce stranding risk in jellyfish aggregations Using a novel approach for analysis of drone footage, Malul et al. show that the movement of jellyfish is modulated by directional swimming that is oriented away from the coast and against the direction of surface waves. The swimming behavior of individual jellyfish translates into a synchronized directional swimming of the aggregations they form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed five well-established physics suites of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in operational forecasting systems in the North Atlantic (NATL) basin or from previous sensitive experiments for dynamic downscaling tropical cyclone (TC) activity. We performed long-term simulations for the 2020 TC season in the NATL and compared the WRF tracks against the HURDAT2 dataset from the US National Hurricane Center. Among the tested configurations, the analysis revealed that the Kain-Fritsch, Purdue Lin, BouLac and revised MM5 schemes for cumulus, microphysics, planetary boundary layer and surface layer, respectively (hereafter WT), outperformed all four others in terms of TC frequency, track density and intensity and showed good performance in the cyclone accumulated energy and TC landfalling locations. In addition, WT well-captured the spatial distribution of accumulated TC precipitation and moisture uptake patterns, although it overestimated the precipitation maxima. Likewise, it agreed on the relative moisture contribution from fixed moisture sources (i.e., Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, tropical NATL, and western NATL) in the NATL basin. Overall, this study highlighted the high potential of using the WT physics suite in WRF for downscaling TC activity over the NATL basin, which will be useful for TC Lagrangian moisture sources analysis in future climate. • WRF configurations are evaluated for dynamic downscaling of tropical cyclones in NATL. • Dynamic downscaling of tropical cyclones using WRF is sensitive to physical schemes. • The KF-LIN-BouLac scheme is optimal for downscaling tropical cyclones in NATL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiclassical tunneling technique proposed by Parikh and Wilczek to study Hawking radiation of static and stationary black holes has been extensively used to investigate the Hawking radiation of different types of black holes. In this paper, the geodesic equation of charged massive particle and the massless particle are obtained by using the Lagrangian analysis. The geodesic equations of charged massive particle and massless particle are determined uniformly and consistently. Based on the geodesic equation, the Hawking radiation of the charged massive particle is investigated near the event horizon of Kerr–Newman–de Sitter black hole. By finding the imaginary part of the action of charged massive particle, the Hawking temperature and the tunneling probability of charged massive particle across the event horizon of KNdS black hole are obtained. The finding of this paper is a development for Parikh–Wilczek's tunneling technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Spatial Markov Models have gained popularity in simulating solute transport in heterogeneous formations. They describe the transition times of particles between equidistant observation planes by statistical distributions, assuming correlation of the transit times of individual particles between subsequent steps. By this, the approach naturally captures preasymptotic solute dispersion. In this study, we analyze Spatial Markov Models assuming bivariate log‐normal distributions of the particle slowness (i.e., the inverse velocity) in subsequent transitions. The model is fully parameterized by the mean Eulerian velocity, the variance of the log‐slowness, and the correlation coefficient of log‐slowness in subsequent steps. We derive closed‐form expressions for distance‐dependent ensemble dispersion, which is defined in terms of the second‐central moments of the solute breakthrough curves. We relate the coefficients to the properties of the underlying log‐hydraulic conductivity field assuming second‐order stationarity. The results are consistent with linear stochastic theory in the limit of small log‐conductivity variances, while the approach naturally extends to high‐variance cases. We demonstrate the validity of the approach by comparison to three‐dimensional particle‐tracking simulations of advective transport in heterogeneous media with isotropic, exponential correlation structure for log‐conductivity variances up to five. This study contributes to relating solute dispersion to metrics of the porous‐medium structure in cases of strong heterogeneity. Key Points: We derive closed‐form expressions of ensemble dispersion in the spatial‐Markov framework of solute transportThe expressions are consistent with linear theory in the limit of small log‐conductivity variances, but extend to high‐variance casesComparison to particle‐tracking simulations of advective transport in 3‐D heterogeneous domains show excellent agreement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate of plastics entering the 3D ocean circulation from rivers discharge is examined through the Lagrangian analysis of neutrally buoyant particles. Particles are released continuously over 1991-2010 at the surface along the coasts according to monthly estimates of rivers plastic waste input. They are advected by daily currents from a state-of-the-art global ocean model at 1/12° resolution. At the end of the simulation (year 2010), particles remaining in the surface layer of 1m thickness represent less than 2% of the total particles released. These are concentrated in the center of subtropical gyres, mostly in the South Indian Ocean, and the North Pacific, in relation with the large sources from Asia, and in good agreement with previous 2D numerical experiments in the surface layer. These patterns remain similar down to about 30m depth, this upper layer strongly influenced by Ekman currents trapping about 20% of the total released particles. About 50% of the total released particles remain in the upper 100 m, and up to 90% are found in the upper 400m at the end of the experiment. Below the mixed layer, they are more widely dispersed horizontally and follow the main global pathways of ocean ventilation of mode and deep water masses. Plastic particles, neutrally buoyant because of their small size or biofouling, are thus expected to be strongly dispersed in the global ocean thermocline following mode waters patterns, and reach the deeper layers following the North Atlantic Deep Water formation path. Two major source regions have a global impact. Particles from the western North Pacific spread over the whole Pacific Ocean poleward of 20°S, whereas particles from Indonesia spread over the whole latitude band from 60°S to 20°S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wintertime, a high-density water forms on the shallow shelf in the vast Peter the Great Bay (Japan Sea). The steep continental slope with deep canyons and cold winters in the area provide suitable conditions for the implementation of deep slope convection—an important phenomenon in the formation of intermediate and bottom waters that occurs at a few locations in some semi-enclosed seas, including the Japan Sea. The descent of dense shelf water down the continental slope of Peter the Great Bay usually occurs to 1000–1200 m; however, in anomalously cold winters, it has been observed at greater than 2000 m depth supporting renewal and deep ventilation of intermediate and bottom waters in the Japan Sea. The deep slope convection is a rare episodic phenomenon with durations ranging from several hours to several days, that has never been simulated in Peter the Great Bay with a realistic numerical model of circulation. We apply the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) with a 600 m horizontal resolution to simulate the deep slope convection in the anomalously cold winter of 2001 when it has been observed in cruises. The results are compared with propagation of deep shelf water in the regular winter of 2010 when hydrological characteristics of this water were recorded by a profiler "Aqualog" installed at the shelf break. Using Lagrangian methods, we track and analyze the formation of dense shelf water, its advection to the slope edge in the bottom layer and descent down the slope. Special attention is payed to the role of coastal eddies arising due to a symmetric instability. These eddies promote the cross-shelf transport of the dense shelf water towards the continental slope edge. The simulation results are compared with rare observations of the deep slope convection in Peter the Great Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, atmospheric moisture source regions and transport pathways, which substantially affect extreme summer precipitation events in the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR) of China were investigated using the Lagrangian Flexible Particle Dispersion Model (FLEXPART). Based on the 24‐hour cumulative precipitation data from the China Meteorological Data Service Center, 2012 and 2015 were selected to represent wet and dry years during the period 2007–2016, respectively. The results indicate that potential moisture sources include the northern Tibetan Plateau, the Bay of Bengal, the southern edge of the Himalayas, Sichuan Basin, and the SRYR. In the wet year, moisture from the southern branch was transported along two pathways: (a) moisture from the Arabian Sea was carried by the Somalia jet and entered the SRYR through the Indian Peninsula and Bay of Bengal, and (b) moisture from the South China Sea entered the SRYR through the Sichuan Basin. In the dry year, the moisture primary originated from the northern branch. Moisture from the eastern European Plain or northern Africa was carried by the westerly jet and entered the SRYR. It is estimated that the ratios of moisture from the northern and southern branches contributing to the precipitation in the SRYR were 22.1 and 15.9% in the wet year, while they were 52.9 and 8.4% in the dry year, respectively. Internal moisture recycling contributed ~22.0% to precipitation in the wet year and 11.0% in the dry year. In this study, the transport trajectories of moisture contributing to extreme precipitation events in the SRYR are delineated. The results indicate that the northern branch is the primary contributor of moisture in the SRYR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explosion welding (EXW) is a solid-state joining process used to produce lap joints out of metal plates of dissimilar materials. During the process, a controlled explosive detonation results in a pressure wave pushing one of the plates to be welded, called flyer, against the other with high velocity. The high pressure and temperature generated, because of the impact energy decaying into heat, create the conditions for solid bonding phenomenon to take place. Due to the complexity of experimental tests, numerical simulation is considered a fundamental design tool for the process. Different approaches are found in literature to simulate the process. In this paper, a dual step Lagrangian–Eulerian approach is proposed to evaluate the effect of different explosives on the final quality of the weld. The numerical model was developed using the commercial software ABAQUS. A three dissimilar materials joint is considered, made of two outer plates of AA5083 aluminum alloy and A516 steel, respectively, and an intermediate layer made of AA1050 aluminum alloy. The model was first validated by comparing the wavy profile of the intermediate layer after the weld, and then used to evaluate the effect of different explosive by analyzing the distribution of the main process parameters as well as the presence of voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) rainfall impacts the world’s most populous regions. Accurate EASM rainfall prediction necessitates robust paleoclimate reconstructions from proxy data and quantitative linkage to modern climatic conditions. Many precisely dated oxygen isotope records from Chinese stalagmites have been interpreted as directly reflecting past EASM rainfall amount variability, but recent research suggests that such records instead integrate multiple hydroclimatic processes. Using a Lagrangian precipitation moisture source diagnostic, we demonstrate that EASM rainfall is primarily derived from the Indian Ocean. Conversely, Pacific Ocean moisture export peaks during winter, and the moisture uptake area does not differ significantly between summer and winter and is thus a minor contributor to monsoonal precipitation. Our results are substantiated by an accurate reproduction of summer and winter spatial rainfall distributions across China. We also correlate modern EASM rainfall oxygen isotope ratios with instrumental rainfall amount and our moisture source data. This analysis reveals that the strength of the source effect is geographically variable, and differences in atmospheric moisture transport may significantly impact the isotopic signature of EASM rainfall at the Hulu, Dongge, and Wanxiang Cave sites. These results improve our ability to isolate the rainfall amount signal in paleomonsoon reconstructions and indicate that precipitation across central and eastern China will directly respond to variability in Indian Ocean moisture supply.

The Eastern Kamchatka Current (EKC) is the western boundary current of the North Pacific subpolar gyre. Southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula lies a large anticyclonic eddy, the Kamchatka Eddy (KE). This eddy is quasi-stationary. More generally, the oceanic region east of the EKC contains many eddies, several of them large and long lasting. Using surface currents derived from altimetry, particle tracking and a simple two-dimensional numerical model of fluid flow, we investigate the variability of this eddy field, the generation of eddies in the bays of Kamchatka by the EKC and fluxes of water to and from these bays. Firstly, we recover in our analysis of long-lasting eddies, the main eddies of the region. Among strong eddies, the parity bias favors anticyclones. Our numerical simulations give a possible explanation for the process of eddy creation in the bays of the peninsula and show that the northernmost bay produces most anticyclones. Then, we track forward the water particles from these bays and we determine their fate in the open ocean; southeastward and southwestward trajectories are the most frequent. We also track water particles backward from the KE site; they often drift near the Kamchatka coast, but others drift south of this site and remain there, a priori trapped in other eddies. This study confirms the complexity of mesoscale motions and water exchanges in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To obtain definitive cancer diagnosis for suspicious lesions, accurate needle deployment and adequate tissue sampling in needle biopsy are essential. However, the single-bevel needles in current biopsy devices often induce deflection during insertion, potentially causing lesion missampling/undersampling and cancer misdiagnosis. This study aims to reveal the biopsy needle design criteria enabling both low deflection and adequate tissue sampling. Methods: A novel model capable of predicting needle deflection and tissue deformation was first established to understand needle-tissue interaction with different needle tip geometries. Experiments of needle deflection and ex-vivo tissue biopsy were conducted for model validation. Results: The developed model showed a reasonably good prediction on the correlation of needle tip type vs. the resultant needle deflection and tissue sampling length. A new multi-bevel needle with the tissue separation point below the needle groove face has demonstrated to be an effective design with an 87% reduction in deflection magnitude and equivalently long tissue sampling length compared to the current single-bevel needle. Conclusion: This study has revealed two critical design criteria for biopsy needles: 1) multiple bevel faces at the needle tip can generate forces to balance bending moments during insertion to enable a low needle deflection and 2) the tissue separation point should be below the needle groove face to ensure long tissue sampling length. Significance: The developed methodologies and findings in this study serve as proof-of-concept and can be utilized to investigate various biopsy procedures to improve cancer diagnostic accuracy as well as other procedures requiring accurate needle insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative impacts are caused by oil spills on coastal ecosystems. In the phenomenon of oil spreading, the knowledge of the physical properties of the pollutant, such as velocities and positions, is of fundamental importance for the adoption of timely contingency measures to protect the environment (Fraga Filho, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics: Fundamentals and Basic Applications in Continuum Mechanics, 2019). This paper presents a Lagrangian particle modelling for the prediction of the oil slick diameter in the first stage of the oil spreading on a calm sea. At the first studies on the oil spreading (Fay, The Spread of Oil Slicks on a Calm Sea, 1969; Fay, Physical Processes in the Spread of Oil on a Water Surface, 1971), curves were adjusted to laboratory experimental data. The modelling employed in this work is based on the continuum Navier-Stokes equations, and the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method has been used to obtain the solution for the conservation equations of mass and momentum. The oil-water interface was treated using a reflective treatment. The solution achieved was compared to the oil slick diameter predicted by Fay's equation, and an error lower than 1% was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wintertime, a high-density water forms on the shallow shelf in the vast Peter the Great Bay (Japan Sea). The steep continental slope with deep canyons and cold winters in the area provide suitable conditions for the implementation of deep slope convection—an important phenomenon in the formation of intermediate and bottom waters that occurs at a few locations in some semi-enclosed seas, including the Japan Sea. The descent of dense shelf water down the continental slope of Peter the Great Bay usually occurs to 1000–1200 m; however, in anomalously cold winters, it has been observed at greater than 2000 m depth supporting renewal and deep ventilation of intermediate and bottom waters in the Japan Sea. The deep slope convection is a rare episodic phenomenon with durations ranging from several hours to several days, that has never been simulated in Peter the Great Bay with a realistic numerical model of circulation. We apply the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) with a 600 m horizontal resolution to simulate the deep slope convection in the anomalously cold winter of 2001 when it has been observed in cruises. The results are compared with propagation of deep shelf water in the regular winter of 2010 when hydrological characteristics of this water were recorded by a profiler “Aqualog” installed at the shelf break. Using Lagrangian methods, we track and analyze the formation of dense shelf water, its advection to the slope edge in the bottom layer and descent down the slope. Special attention is payed to the role of coastal eddies arising due to a symmetric instability. These eddies promote the cross-shelf transport of the dense shelf water towards the continental slope edge. The simulation results are compared with rare observations of the deep slope convection in Peter the Great Bay.

Modelling the drift of marine debris in quasi-real time can be of societal relevance. One pertinent example is Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The aircraft is assumed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, leaving floating wreckage to drift on the surface. Some of these items were recovered around the western Indian Ocean. We use ocean currents simulated by an operational ocean model in conjunction with surface Stokes drift to determine the possible paths taken by the debris. We consider: (1) How important is the influence of surface waves on the drift? (2) What are the relative benefits of forward- and backward-tracking in time? (3) Does including information from more items refine the most probable crash-site region? Our results highlight a critical contribution of Stokes drift and emphasise the need to know precisely the buoyancy characteristics of the items. The differences between the tracking approaches provide a measure of uncertainty which can be minimised by simulating a sufficiently large number of virtual debris. Given the uncertainties associated with the timings of the debris sightings, we show that at least 5 items are required to achieve an optimal most probable crash-site region. The results have implications for other drift simulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both deepwater formation and the obduction processes converting dense deep water to lighter surface water are the engine for the global meridional overturning circulation (MOC). Their spatio‐temporal variations effectively modify the ocean circulation and related carbon cycle, which affects climate evolution throughout geological time. Using early‐Eocene bathymetry and enhanced atmospheric CO2 concentration, the IPSL‐CM5A2 climate model has simulated a well‐ventilated Southern Ocean associated with a strong anticlockwise MOC. To trace the fates of these paleo‐Antarctic Bottom Water (paleo‐AABW), we conducted Lagrangian analyses using these IPSL‐CM5A2 model results and tracking virtual particles released at the lower limb of the MOC, defined as an initial section at 60°S below 1,900 m depth. Diagnostic analysis of these particles trajectories reveals that most paleo‐AABW circulates back to the Southern Ocean through either the initial section (43%) or the section above (31%), the remaining (>25%) crossing the base of the mixed layer mostly in tropical regions (up to half). The majority of water parcels ending in the mixed layer experience negative density transformations, intensified in the upper 500 m and mostly occurring in tropical upwelling regions, with a spatial pattern consistent with the wind‐driven Ekman pumping, largely determined by the Eocene wind stress and continental geometry. In the same way as present‐day North Atlantic Deep Water upwells in the Southern Ocean, our results suggest that the strong tropical and equatorial upwelling during the Eocene provides an efficient pathway from the abyss to the surface, but at much higher temperature, with potential implications for the oceanic carbon cycle. Key Points: A coupled climate simulation of the early Eocene shows a single intense overturning cell originating in the Southern OceanLagrangian analysis of this paleo‐Antarctic Bottom Water reveals a major route to the surface mixed layer, with implications for carbon cycleThis upwelling mainly occurs in equatorial and tropical regions, in relation with the spatial pattern of the wind‐driven Ekman pumping [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is the purpose of this paper to propose a standard test case suite for two-dimensional transport schemes on the sphere intended to be used for model development and facilitating scheme intercomparison. The test cases are designed to assess important aspects of accuracy in geophysical fluid dynamics such as numerical order of convergence, "minimal" resolution, the ability of the transport scheme to preserve filaments, transport "rough" distributions, and to preserve pre-existing functional relations between species/tracers under challenging flow conditions. The experiments are designed to be easy to set up. They are specified in terms of two analytical wind fields (one non-divergent and one divergent) and four analytical initial conditions (varying from smooth to discontinuous). Both conventional error norms as well as novel mixing and filament preservation diagnostics are used that are easy to implement. The experiments pose different challenges for the range of transport approaches from Lagrangian to Eulerian. The mixing and filament preservation diagnostics do not require an analytical/reference solution, which is in contrast to standard error norms where a "true" solution is needed. Results using the CSLAM (Conservative Semi-Lagrangian Multi-tracer) scheme on the cubed-sphere are presented for reference and illustrative purposes.

Understanding moisture transport is crucial for understanding continental precipitation and extreme precipitation events, which are expected to become substantially more frequent under global warming conditions. In this work, the influence of major global moisture sources on extreme continental precipitation during the peak precipitation month is estimated and compared with climatological patterns. The results show a general change in the pattern of contribution of the primary source of precipitation (the source with the highest contribution) during extreme precipitation events. Most primary sources show a general reduction in their area of influence and a notable reduction in their contribution to the total precipitation.

In previous studies, Lagrangian analyses were used to assess large-scale ocean circulation, and the Lagrangian coherent structure could also reveal the evolution of the two-dimensional structure of the mesoscale eddies. However, few studies have demonstrated the three-dimensional structure of the mesoscale eddies via Lagrangian analysis. Compared with previous studies, which investigated the eddy structure via a Eulerian view, we used a Lagrangian view to provide a different perspective to study the eddy structure. An idealized cyclonic mesoscale eddy is built up over a seamount, and it presents downwelling inside the eddy and upwelling alongside the eddy formed within a closed circulation system. This structure is difficult to display via a Eulerian analysis. However, the trajectories of particles can well demonstrate the full cycle: the fluid sank and rotated inside the eddies, converged to the upwelling zone of the bottom layer and returned to the surface through upwelling. We also applied a Lagrangian analysis to a realistic simulation. As a significant phenomenon in the South China Sea, the dipole structure of the anticyclonic eddy (AE)/cyclonic eddy (CE) pair off of central Vietnam has been well studied but mainly at the sea surface. With a Lagrangian analysis, we illustrate the three-dimensional structure of the eddy pair: the fluid sank (rose) and rotated inside the AE (CE). More importantly, the trajectories of the particles suggested that there was no fluid exchange between the two eddies since the strong boundary jet separates them from each other. All the conclusions above have been verified and are supported by the computational error estimate. With a selected time step and integral period, the computational errors always present small values, although they increase with strong divergent and vertical diffusive flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most chemical reactors the homogeneous distribution of reactants is a desired prerequisite for guaranteed product quality and purity. However, oftentimes, especially in new reactor concepts this condition may not be met due to evolving or existing structures in the transport patterns. In this article the usage of Lagrangian analysis techniques in order to analyze chemical and biochemical reactors regarding the behavior of Lagrangian tracers is explored. A Lagrangian analysis on two different datasets is performed trying to show the large versatility of the concepts. The Lagrangian analysis techniques allow new insights into the reactor dynamics and could be a valuable tool to identify and characterize areas of different mixing performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal waters are subject to great environmental and anthropogenic pressures. The diffusion and the transport of these waters are a key element for environmental, ecological and economic management. There are numerous indicators of hydrological characteristics based on theories of transport time scale. However, these indicators strongly depend on the geographical shape of the studied area and tend to give information after long integration time periods, generally on the order of weeks. Here, to qualify a coastal area's dispersion more precisely, we combined two Lagrangian approaches and estimated a local diffusivity. This paper presents the numerical implementation and the results obtained over a tidally flushed, semi-enclosed water body located at mid-latitude. This new coefficient was estimated using the hydrodynamic model MARS 3D with a barycentric repositioning technique over a tidal period to ensure its reliability. We highlight the existing relationships between local diffusivity and both horizontal and vertical processes. Methodological aspects were analysed based on a reference case (number and distribution of particles, resolution, integration time period). The consistency and sensitivity of the coefficient were studied with different forcing conditions (hydrodynamical and meteorological regimes). In conclusion, our local diffusivity provides a new perspective for understanding the land–sea interface and coastal dispersion and holds potential for future studies of coastal marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulent mixing is a physical process of fundamental importance in high-speed premixed flames. This mixing results in enhanced transport of temperature and chemical scalars, leading to potentially large changes in flame structure and dynamics. To understand turbulent mixing in non-reacting flows, a number of classical theories have been proposed to describe the scaling and statistics of dispersing fluid particle pairs, including predictions of the effective, or turbulent, eddy diffusivity. Here we examine the validity of these classical theories through the study of fluid particle pair dispersion and eddy diffusivity in a highly turbulent premixed methane-air flame at a Karlovitz number of approximately 140. Using data from a direct numerical simulation and a higher-order Lagrangian tracking algorithm, particle pair centroids are seeded at different initial temperatures and separations, and then integrated forward in time. We show that scaling relations and results developed for pair dispersion in non-reacting flows remain relevant in this high-intensity premixed flame, and we identify the impacts of heat release on dispersion and eddy diffusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In oligotrophic gyres of the tropical ocean, islands can enhance phytoplankton biomass and create hotspots of productivity and biodiversity. This "island mass effect" (IME) is typically identified by increased chlorophyll concentrations next to an island. Here we use a simple plankton model in a Lagrangian framework to represent an unexplained open ocean bloom, demonstrating how islands could have triggered it remotely. This new type of IME, termed "delayed IME," occurs when nitrate is limiting, N:P ratios are low, and excess phosphate and iron remain in water masses after an initial bloom associated with a "classical" IME. Nitrogen fixers then slowly utilize leftover phosphate and iron while water masses get advected away, resulting in a bloom decoupled in time (several weeks) and space (hundreds of kilometers) from island‐driven nutrient supply. This study suggests that the fertilizing effect of islands on phytoplankton may have been largely underestimated. Plain Language Summary: In the poor and nutrient‐depleted waters of the tropical Pacific, islands act as sources of nutrients fertilizing nearby waters. These nutrients are consumed by microscopic photosynthesizing algae, the phytoplankton. The resulting phytoplankton enrichments (blooms) in turn support productive ecosystems. This phenomenon, termed the "island mass effect," has been known for 60 years and is classically defined by increased chlorophyll (representing phytoplankton biomass) next to an island. Blooms also occur in the open ocean and are usually attributed to vertical processes such as mixing or uplifting that locally supply nutrients from subsurface reservoirs. In this paper, we demonstrate that a different type of island mass effect exists, where the phytoplankton response is delayed because they grow very slowly. These blooms are supported by the nitrogen fixer Trichodesmium. Since phytoplankton get carried away from islands by oceanic currents while they grow, this can lead to a bloom located hundreds of kilometers away with no apparent connection to the islands. Nutrient inputs by islands followed by advection can thus trigger remote blooms in the open ocean. Our study suggests that the fertilizing effect of islands may currently be largely underestimated, particularly in the warm waters of the tropical Pacific where Trichodesmimum is common. Key Points: Previously undescribed delayed island mass effects can generate intense blooms decoupled from island fertilization both in time and in spaceThese occur when diazotrophs slowly utilize excess phosphate and iron after a classical island effect while being advected away from islandsThe fertilizing impact of islands on phytoplankton may thus currently be largely underestimated in the oligotrophic ocean [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notions of Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) and Lagrangian Coherent Structures provide a strong framework for the analysis and visualization of complex technical flows. Their definition is simple and intuitive, and they are built on a deep theoretical foundation. We apply these concepts to enable the analysis of flows in the immediate vicinity of the boundaries of flow-embedded objects by limiting the Lagrangian analysis to surfaces closely neighboring these boundaries. To this purpose, we present an approach to approximate FTLE fields over such surfaces. Furthermore, we achieve an effective depiction of boundary-related flow structures such as separation and attachment over object boundaries and specific insight into the surrounding flow using several specifically chosen visualization techniques. We document the applicability of our methods by presenting a number of application examples.