A satellite observation of the Adriatic Sea response to a spatially heterogeneous wind

Authors

  • Milivoj Kuzmić Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) derived fields of pigment concentration were used in this paper to assess the Adriatic Sea response to a spatially heterogeneous wind. By observing changes in the pigment fields of the Northern Adriatic surface waters further evidence was sought for previously studied effect of bora, a gusty katabatic wind of north-easterly direction. CZCS registered similarities and differences in response to three bora episodes were analyzed using available wind and Po River discharge data and a mathematical model prediction of the wind-induced circulation. In comparing the modeling results with spaceborne observations the bora-induced gyre emerged as the mechanism responsible for particular change of spatial pattern observed in CZCS detected radiance and derived pigment concentration filed. In this process relative timing of bora episodes and availability of Po-supplied tracing material seem to be important.  

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Published

1993-01-01

Issue

Section

Original scientific paper