Papers by JOAQUIN TINTORE
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 2022
Ocean fronts are areas that can support phytoplankton production through fertilization in the sun... more Ocean fronts are areas that can support phytoplankton production through fertilization in the sunlit layer and the subduction of biogeochemical properties from the surface to the interior of the ocean. The Almeria‐Oran (AO) front is formed from the juxtaposition of fresh inflowing Atlantic waters and more saline re‐circulating Mediterranean waters. A fleet of three gliders flying in parallel lines was deployed across the AO to obtain observations in the CALYPSO project. These observations were combined with remote sensing and modeling simulations, thus providing a novel approach to identifying the three‐dimensional transport and the submesoscale across‐front circulation. The resulting 33 cross‐front sections reveal spatial and temporal changes in the frontal boundary, with isopycnals steepening and/or relaxing. The observations revealed strong horizontal density gradients (up to ∼1.4 kg m−3) and the spatial variability was observed over different length scales (∼10–45 km). The poten...
Ocean Dynamics, Jan 23, 2021
DIVAnd (Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis, in n-dimensions) is a tool to interpolate observ... more DIVAnd (Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis, in n-dimensions) is a tool to interpolate observations on a regular grid using the variational inverse method. We have extended DIVAnd to include additional dynamic constraints relevant to surface currents, including imposing a zero normal velocity at the coastline, imposing a low horizontal divergence of the surface currents, temporal coherence and simplified dynamics based on the Coriolis force, and the possibility of including a surface pressure gradient. The impact of these constraints is evaluated by cross-validation using the HF (high-frequency) radar surface current observations in the Ibiza Channel from the Balearic Islands Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB). A small fraction of the radial current observations are set aside to validate the velocity reconstruction. The remaining radial currents from the two radar sites are combined to derive total surface currents using DIVAnd and then compared to the cross-validation dataset and to drifter observations. The benefit of the dynamic constraints is shown relative to a variational interpolation without these dynamical constraints. The best results were obtained using the Coriolis force and the surface pressure gradient as a constraint which are able to improve the reconstruction from the Open-boundary Modal Analysis, a quite commonly used method to interpolate HF radar observations, once multiple time instances are considered together.
Frontiers in Marine Science, Mar 29, 2021
Révelard et al. Sensitivity of Skill Score Metric coverage. HFR-derived trajectories could theref... more Révelard et al. Sensitivity of Skill Score Metric coverage. HFR-derived trajectories could therefore be used for complementing drifter observations. The SS is, on average, more favorable to coarser-resolution models because of the double-penalty error, whereas higher-resolution models show both very low and very high performance during the experiments.
Frontiers in Marine Science, Mar 26, 2021
The increasing science and society requests for ocean monitoring from global to regional and loca... more The increasing science and society requests for ocean monitoring from global to regional and local scales, the need for integration and convergence into a globally consistent ocean observing system as well as the need for improvement of access to information are now internationally recognized goals to progress toward the sustainable management of a healthy ocean. To respond to these challenges at regional level, the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB) is developing a comprehensive set of ocean indicators in the Mediterranean Sea and around the Balearic Islands, key environments that are strongly affected by climate change and human pressure. This new SOCIB value-added product addresses the sub-regional ocean variability from daily (events) to interannual/decadal (climate) scales. A userfriendly interface has been implemented to monitor, visualize and communicate ocean information that is relevant for a wide range of sectors, applications and regional endusers. These sub-regional indicators allowed us to detect specific events in real time. Remarkable events and features identified include marine heat waves, atmospheric storm, extreme river discharge, mesoscale eddy, deep convection among others, all of them being oceanic phenomena that directly impact the ocean circulation and marine ecosystems. The long-term variations, in response to climate change, are also addressed highlighting and quantifying trends in physical and biogeochemical components of the ocean as well as sub-regional differences. At both (sub-) regional, national and international levels, a society-aligned science will have stronger impact on policy decision-makings and will support society to implement specific actions to address worldwide environmental challenges.
Journal Of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Aug 1, 2019
Oceanic fronts are dynamically active regions of the global ocean that support upwelling and down... more Oceanic fronts are dynamically active regions of the global ocean that support upwelling and downwelling with significant implications for phytoplankton production and export. However (on time scales ≳ the inertial time scale), the vertical velocity is 10 3-10 4 times weaker than the horizontal velocity and is difficult to observe directly. Using intensive field observations in conjunction with a process study ocean model, we examine vertical motion and its effect on phytoplankton fluxes at multiple spatial horizontal scales in an oligotrophic region in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The mesoscale ageostrophic vertical velocity (∼10 m/day) inferred from our observations shapes the large-scale phytoplankton distribution but does not explain the narrow (1-10 km wide) features of high chlorophyll content extending 40-60 m downward from the deep chlorophyll maximum. Using modeling, we show that downwelling submesoscale features concentrate 80% of the downward vertical flux of phytoplankton within just 15% of the horizontal area. These submesoscale spatial structures serve as conduits between the surface mixed layer and pycnocline and can contribute to exporting carbon from the sunlit surface layers to the ocean interior. Several studies have shown the importance of submesoscale dynamics in generating much larger vertical velocities than mesoscale processes in frontal zones (
Coastal upwelling has been extensively studied since it plays a critical role in the connectivity... more Coastal upwelling has been extensively studied since it plays a critical role in the connectivity between offshore waters and coastal ecosystems, impacting on water quality, fisheries and aquaculture production. Significant efforts have been devoted to the quantification of the intensity, duration and variability of this phenomenon by means of coastal upwelling indexes (CUI), derived from wind, sea level pressure or sea surface temperature data. Albeit valuable first-order descriptors, such classical indexes have been reported to present some limitations. As one of the major shortcomings is the omission of the direct influence of ocean circulation, this work introduces a novel CUI, generated from remote-sensed hourly surface current observations provided by a High-Frequency radar (HFR). The consistency of the proposed index (CUI-HFR) is assessed in two different oceanographic areas during two distinct time periods: in the Northwestern Iberian (NWI) Peninsula for 2021 and in the Bay of Biscay (BOB) for 2014, respectively. To this aim, CUI-HFR is compared against a traditional CUI based on hourly wind observations (CUI-WIND) provided by two buoys. Likewise, the skill of CUI-HFR to identify upwelling and downwelling events is also qualitatively evaluated. Complementarily, the prognostic capabilities of the GLOBAL analysis and forecasting system to accurately reproduce upwelling and downwelling events in the NWI area are also analysed (CUI-GLOBAL). Results obtained in these two pilot areas revealed: (i) a noticeable agreement between CUI-HFR and CUI-WIND, with correlation coefficients above 0.67; (ii) a proven ability of CUI-HFR and CUI-GLOBAL to categorize a variety of upwelling and downwelling episodes, which highlights their potential applicability for direct upwelling monitoring over any coastal area of the global ocean.
EGUGA, Apr 30, 2014
, (2) IMEDEA, Esporles, Spain SOCIB, the Balearic Islands Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting... more , (2) IMEDEA, Esporles, Spain SOCIB, the Balearic Islands Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System (http://www.socib.es), is a Marine Research Infrastructure, a multiplatform distributed and integrated system, a facility of facilities that extends from the nearshore to the open sea and provides free, open and quality control data. SOCIB is a facility o facilities and has three major infrastructure components: (1) a distributed multiplatform observing system, (2) a numerical forecasting system, and (3) a data management and visualization system. We present the spatial data infrastructure and applications developed at SOCIB.
* (M)SLA and along track SLA (1Hz / 20Hz)-Horizontal resolution * (M)SLA: 1/8°, 1Hz ~ 7km, 20Hz ~... more * (M)SLA and along track SLA (1Hz / 20Hz)-Horizontal resolution * (M)SLA: 1/8°, 1Hz ~ 7km, 20Hz ~ 350m Complementary tools Ref. Level issue Limited coverage
Research Square (Research Square), Jul 28, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unparalleled global impacts on human mobility. In the ocean... more The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unparalleled global impacts on human mobility. In the ocean, ship-based activities are thought to have decreased due to severe restrictions and changes in goods consumption, but little is known of the patterns of change, which sectors are most affected, in which regions, and for how long. Here, we map global change of marine traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess its temporal variability at a fine-scale in one of the most affected regions, the Mediterranean Sea. Nearly 44.3% of the global ocean and 77.5% of national jurisdictions showed a decrease in traffic density during April 2020, when strictest confinement measures took place, showing a clear disruption in comparison with previous trends and future projections. Decreases mainly occurred in coastal areas and were more marked and longer lasting in sectors other than cargo and tanker shipping. Our results provide guidance for large-scale monitoring of the progress and potential effects of COVID-19, or other global shocks, on the blue economy and ocean health.
Journal Of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Aug 1, 2016
Algerian eddies are the strongest and largest propagating mesoscale structures in the Western Med... more Algerian eddies are the strongest and largest propagating mesoscale structures in the Western Mediterranean Sea. They have a large influence on the mean circulation, water masses and biological processes. Over 20 years of satellite altimeter data have been analyzed to characterize the propagation of these eddies using automatic detection methods and cross-correlation analysis. We found that, on average, Algerian eddy trajectories form two subbasin scale anticlockwise gyres that coincide with the two Algerian gyres which were described in the literature as the barotropic circulation in the area. This result suggests that altimetry sea surface observations can provide information on subsurface currents and their variability through the study of the propagation of deep mesoscale eddies in semienclosed seas. The analysis of eddy sea level anomalies along the mean pathways reveals three preferred areas of formation. Eddies are usually formed at a specific time of the year in these areas, with a strong interannual variability over the last 20 years.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 3, 2021
JERICO RI, the Joint European Research Infrastructure for Coastal Observatories is an integrated ... more JERICO RI, the Joint European Research Infrastructure for Coastal Observatories is an integrated pan-European multidisciplinary/multiplatform research infrastructure dedicated to an interdisciplinary appraisal of the coastal marine system environment. It is the coastal component of the future European Ocean Observing System. This Research Infrastructure is designing the future of coastal observation technology for harmonization and interoperability, advanced functionalities, cost efficiency and reliability. The technological developments of the JERICO-S3 EU project aim to strengthen and expand the infrastructure of the European network of coastal observatories. This objective will be achieved with new observing systems and platforms equipped with new technologies for interoperability, innovative sensor packages for multidisciplinary ecosystem monitoring, coupling physics, chemistry and biology. The planned technological developments consist in adapting interoperability standards, inter alia from the NeXOS and EMSODev European projects, developing onboard and on-server smart solutions for adaptive sampling, integrating technologies into dedicated sensor packages, further developing a capacity for high-frequency measurement of low trophic-level biological diversity and contaminants; hence filling critical gaps in the observation of the coastal ocean. An e-infrastructure is being developed and proof tested to integrate digital components (tools), best practices and documentation, from observation data and data products, to methods and coastal observation services.
New Frontiers in Operational Oceanography, 2018
High-resolution regional models of the ocean circulation are now operated on a routine basis usin... more High-resolution regional models of the ocean circulation are now operated on a routine basis using realistic setups in many regions of the world, with the aim to be used for both scientific purposes and practical applications involving decision-making processes. While the evaluation of these simulations is essential for the provision of reliable information to users and allows the identification of areas of model improvement, it also highlights several challenges. Observations are limited and the real state of the ocean is, to a large extent, unknown at the short spatiotemporal scales resolved in these models. The skill of the model also generally varies with the region, variable, depth and the spatiotemporal scale under consideration. Moreover, the increased spatial resolution might require ad hoc metrics to properly reflect the model performance and reduce the impact of so-called "double-penalty" effects occurring when using point-topoint comparisons with features present in the model but misplaced with respect to the observations. Multiplatform observations currently collected through regional and coastal ocean observatories constitute very valuable databases to evaluate the simulations. Gliders, high frequency radars, moorings, Lagrangian surface drifters, and profiling floats all provide, with their own specific sampling capability, partial but accurate information about the ocean and its variability at different scales. This is complementary to the global measurements collected from satellites. Using a case study in the Western Mediterranean Sea, this chapter illustrates the opportunities offered by multi-platform measurements to assess the realism of highresolution regional model simulations.
Trabajo presentado en el Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting, celebrado en Boulder, Col... more Trabajo presentado en el Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting, celebrado en Boulder, Colorado, Estados Unidos, del 8 al 11 de 2013
This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in storm surge forecasting and its particular application... more This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in storm surge forecasting and its particular application in the northern Adriatic Sea. The city of Venice relies crucially on a good flood forecasting system in order to protect the extensive cultural heritage, their population, and their economic activities. Storm surge forecasting systems are in place to warn the population of imminent flood threats. In the future, it will be of paramount importance to increase the reliability of these forecasting systems, especially with the new MOSE mobile barriers that will be completed by 2021, and will depend on accurate storm surge forecasting to control their operation. In this paper, the physics behind the flooding of Venice is discussed, and the state of the art of European storm surge forecasting is reviewed. The challenges that lie ahead for Venice and its forecasting systems are analyzed, especially in view of uncertainty. Some extreme events that happened in the past and were particularly difficult to forecast are also described.
Journal of Operational Oceanography, 2019
In the last 10 years, new monitoring and modelling technologies have emerged allowing real-time o... more In the last 10 years, new monitoring and modelling technologies have emerged allowing real-time observation and forecasting of the coastal ocean at regional and local scales. These technologies are at the core of multi-platform integrated observing and forecasting systems, such as the Balearic Islands Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB). New capabilities to characterise the state of the ocean and its variability at finer spatial and temporal scales are emerging, supporting science and products for society. SOCIB has a well-defined mission to deliver ocean observing for the benefit of science and society. From initiation in 2010, SOCIB has provided high-quality, free and open data. In order to increase our utility, we developed a Products and Services Strategy rooted in business best practice. Ten sectorsgroups of users with common data needswere identified, for which SOCIB has information and knowledge of high value. Dedicated products were developed in cooperation with the end-users: beach lifeguards/managers and sustainable marine resources managers. We illustrate an integrative approach, combining business concepts with collaborative software development methodologies and ocean observing science, to turn ocean observations and forecasts into products and services, with benefits for society in the sustainable blue economy era.
Earth System Science Data Discussions, 2018
We present data collected in the framework of the Algerian BAsin Circulation Unmanned Survey-ABAC... more We present data collected in the framework of the Algerian BAsin Circulation Unmanned Survey-ABACUS project. ABACUS main objective is the monitoring of the basin circulation and of the surface and intermediate water masses physical and biological properties in a key region of the Mediterranean Sea circulation. Data have been collected through deep glider cruises in the Western Mediterranean Sea during the autumns of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Glider missions were realized in the Algerian Basin, between the Island of Mallorca and the Algerian Coast. Across the three glider missions, eight repeated transects were obtained which enabled us to investigate the basin scale circulation and the presence of mesoscale structures utilising both the adaptive sampling capabilities of the gliders and the higher resolution of the data. After collection, all data passed a quality control procedure and were then made available through an unrestricted repository host by the SOCIB Data Centre at https://doi.org/10.25704/b200-3vf5. The actual dataset spans three fall seasons, providing an important contribution to the data collection in the chronically undersampled Algerian Basin. Temperature and salinity data collected in the first 975 m of the water column allowed us to identify the main water masses and describe their characteristics improving the understanding of the dynamics of the region. On the time scale of the project, data show a large variability at the surface layer and reduced variability at the intermediate and deep layers. Our measurements have been successfully compared to data previously collected in the area from 1909 to 2011. Results showed similar overall distribution, ranges and variability as the historical data, with no outliers in the surface or deep layers.
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Papers by JOAQUIN TINTORE