Surface Circulation in the Eastern Mediterranean Using Lagrangian Drifters

Abstract

In the period spanning from September 2005 to October 2006, 81 Lagrangian drifters were deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean using ships of opportunity or during oceanographic cruises. Surface circulation statistics, both Eulerian and Lagrangian, were performed using data recorded until 18 August 2006. The main circulation features of the area, together with their variability, are well delineated. The energy of the mean flow and of the fluctuating currents were also computed.