SURFACE CIRCULATION IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC SEA AS REVEALED BY A DRIFTER EXPERIMENT

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 x 0.1)-degrees 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 x 0.1)-degrees 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 atypical summer regime and the corresponding low-dynamics coastal regime along the Italian littoral south the Po outlet are rather well resolved.