Meeting Abstracts
Surface Lagrangian dispersion in the Gulf of California
Luis Zavala Sansón, Miguel F. Lavín
CICESE
(Abstract received 04/09/2012 for session A)
ABSTRACT
Surface dispersion properties in the Gulf of California are examined by means of Argos drifters. Absolute and relative dispersion measurements are carried out from trajectories of about 65 buoys released at different locations along the Gulf during 2004-2005. In addition, Finite Scale Lyapunov Exponents are calculated to estimate diffusivity coefficients at different length scales. Since the Gulf of California is a very elongated basin -more than 1000 km long and about 200 km wide- the dispersion properties are clearly anisotropic, being much more important along the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. The results are compared with similar measurements obtained by other authors in different regions. In particular, we emphasize the role of the semi-enclosed nature of the Gulf of California, the characteristic mesoscale circulation patterns, and the consequent influence on the dispersion properties.