Developing ocean particle tracking tools for cross-disciplinary oceanic research with applications in the Agulhas current region

Lagrangian ocean analysis is a powerful way to study ocean processes from in-situ observations and numerical model simulations. As numerical modelling capabilities develop and physical mechanisms of the ocean are better understood, the importance of particle trajectory modelling continues to increase. Therefore, developing cross-disciplinary particle trajectory model applications for the Greater Agulhas System is highly relevant due to its potential contribution to scientific studies and operational applications. This thesis presents the results of developing particle trajectory model applications in the Greater Agulhas System towards better understanding the physical mechanisms that drive ocean processes in the region. The model is used in three applications that demonstrate their cross-disciplinary potential. These applications include a search and rescue scenario, the study of ocean dynamics and the study of the fate of juvenile turtles. Introducing spatially and temporally varying stochastic motion to account for the processes not resolved in the ocean surface current products, as well as including more appropriate boundary conditions, were shown to improve the accuracy of virtual drifters in representing the trajectory of a real surface drifter. Next, implementing the spatially and temporally varying stochastic motion in the particle trajectory model and applying it to a search and rescue scenario of a capsized catamaran revealed that including both winds and surface ocean currents in the particle trajectory model allowed for an improved prediction of the capsized vessel’s trajectory. By comparing a pair of real surface drifters with the particle trajectory model and analysing high resolution sea surface temperature (SST) fields it was shown that the formation of an eddy on the Agulhas Plateau combined with the weakening of the core current velocity resulted in enhanced eddycurrent interactions facilitating the separation of the real surface drifter-pair as they passed through this region. Lastly, the particle trajectory model was used to study the importance of including active swimming characteristic when studying the fate of juvenile turtles. It was found that including active swimming resulted in a change in the distribution of juvenile turtles and, therefore, needs to be included to provide a proper understanding of the fate of juvenile turtles in the ocean. With further development and refinement of the particle trajectory model, Lagrangian ocean analysis has the potential to provide valuable information towards improving our understanding of physical and biological ocean processes at a range of spatial and temporal scales with potential operational oceanography applications