Fine scale [VER]tical exchange in the upper ocean – [S]W[O]T: VERSO

Principle Investigator: Ananda Pascual (IMEDEA(CSIC-UIB)​)

Co-Investigator(s): Baptiste Mourre, Bàrbara Barceló-Llull, Laura Gómez Navarro, Vincent Combes, Eugenio Cutolo, Ronan Fablet, Guiomar López, Emma Reyes, Daniel R. Tarry, Joaquín Tintoré, Nikolaos Zarokanellos, Elisabet Verger-Miralles, Diego Vega-Giménez

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The proposed project represents a four-year continuation of our previous efforts aimed at enhancing our understanding of oceanic mesoscale and submesoscale features, such as fronts, meanders, eddies, and filaments. We will achieve this by harnessing a combination of in-situ and satellite data, in synergy with cutting-edge numerical models and innovative computational techniques.

Our primary focus is on investigating scales ranging from 10 to 100 kilometers, which have traditionally eluded resolution by conventional altimeters. SWOT satellite is a game-changer in offering unprecedented insights into this scale range. Our study area is the western Mediterranean Sea, a natural, reduced-scale laboratory basin that allows us to examine processes of global significance.

To achieve our objectives, we will pursue two main approaches:

1. Analyzing data collected during the FaSt-SWOT field campaigns, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. These experiments took place during the 1-day sampling orbit of the satellite in Spring 2023. Our involvement in the regional validation working group and SWOT Adopt A Crossover initiative demonstrates our commitment to maximizing the utility of these data.
2. Developing advanced techniques for 3D reconstruction considering both 1-day and 21-day repeat orbit data. This endeavor will heavily rely on artificial intelligence and numerical modeling, enhanced by state-of-the-art data assimilation methods. These innovative approaches will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of the complex oceanic dynamics within our study area.