We present results from an experiment designed to better understand the mechanism by which ocean currents and winds control flotsam drift. The experiment consisted of deploying in the Florida Current and subsequent satellite tracking of specially designed drifting buoys of various sizes, buoyancies, and shapes. We explain the differences in the trajectories described by the special drifters as a result of their inertia, primarily buoyancy, which constrains the ability of the drifters to adapt their velocities to instantaneous changes in the ocean current and wind that define the carrying flow field. Our explanation of the observed behavior follows from the application of a recently proposed Maxey–Riley theory for the motion of finite-sized particles floating on the ocean surface. The nature of the carrying flow and the domain of validity of the theory are clarified, and a closure proposal is made to fully determine its parameters in terms of the carrying fluid system properties and inertial particle characteristics.
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Observation and quantification of inertial effects on the drift of floating objects at the ocean surface
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February 2020
Research Article|
February 11 2020
Observation and quantification of inertial effects on the drift of floating objects at the ocean surface
M. J. Olascoaga
;
M. J. Olascoaga
a)
1
Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: jolascoaga@miami.edu
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F. J. Beron-Vera
;
F. J. Beron-Vera
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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P. Miron
;
P. Miron
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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J. Triñanes
;
J. Triñanes
3
CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
, Santiago, Spain
4
Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
5
Physical Oceanography Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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N. F. Putman
;
N. F. Putman
6
LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc.
, Bryan, Texas 77802, USA
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R. Lumpkin
;
R. Lumpkin
5
Physical Oceanography Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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G. J. Goni
G. J. Goni
5
Physical Oceanography Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: jolascoaga@miami.edu
Physics of Fluids 32, 026601 (2020)
Article history
Received:
November 17 2019
Accepted:
January 08 2020
Citation
M. J. Olascoaga, F. J. Beron-Vera, P. Miron, J. Triñanes, N. F. Putman, R. Lumpkin, G. J. Goni; Observation and quantification of inertial effects on the drift of floating objects at the ocean surface. Physics of Fluids 1 February 2020; 32 (2): 026601. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5139045
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