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Estimating oceanic physics-driven vertical velocities in a wind-influenced coastal environment

M. Arnaud,Anne A. Petrenko,J. Fuda,C. Comby,Anthony Bosse,Y. Ourmières,S. Barrillon

Published 2025 in Ocean Science (OS)

ABSTRACT

Abstract. Despite the challenge of measuring them due to their small intensities, oceanic vertical velocities (W) constitute essential key variables in understanding ocean dynamics, and ocean-atmosphere interactions and biogeochemical processes. Coastal events and fine-scale processes (1–100 km and days to weeks) can lead to high-intensity vertical velocities. Such processes can be observed in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. In particular, the Gulf of Lion is a region prone to intense north-westerly and easterly wind episodes that strongly impact the oceanic circulation. This work presents mooring ADCPs as reliable tools for physics-driven W measurements, with an adaptive algorithm which is applicable anywhere offshore in the ocean to detect W in fine-scale processes. The JULIO mooring (JUdicious Location for Intrusion Observation) is located on the boundary of the eastern side of the Gulf of Lion's shelf at the 100 m isobath. JULIO provides Eulerian measurements of three-dimensional current velocities over two main time-periods: 2012–2015, and since 2020. Vertical velocity measurements from JULIO show a good agreement with two independent methods: a Free-Fall Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler and an innovative Vertical Velocity Profiler. To measure physics-driven vertical velocities, we developed a method to identify and filter out biology-induced vertical velocities. Combining satellite and in situ observations with wind model outputs, we identify wind-induced downwelling and upwelling events at JULIO associated with physics-driven vertical velocities with maximum amplitudes of −465/127 m d−1. Hence, this analysis underlines the need for long term multimethod observations in such coastal areas forced by intense wind episodes.

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