Surface circulation in the Northern Adriatic Sea as revealed by a drifter experiment

Summary Nine-hours-averaged positions from five satellite-tracked drifting buoys were used to map the surface circulation in the Northern Adriatic sea. The velocity and kinetic-energy fields were calculated on a regular (0.1×0.1)^o grid using averaged positions and remapping the obtained field by means of univariate objective analysis techniques. Eddy and mean flow kinetic-energy contributions were also calculated on a (0.1×0.1)^o grid. The main features of the surface circulation agree with other representations. The double eddy regime due to the Po river outflow, which spreads in a typical summer regime and the corresponding low-dynamics coastal regime along the Italian littoral south the Po outlet are rather well resolved.