Submesoscale Eddies in the White Sea Based on Satellite Radar Measurements

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the archive of radar images of Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and Radarsat-1,2 for the warm period of 2009-2012. For the first time surface manifestations of submesoscale eddies are mapped in the White Sea.The areas of persistent eddy activity as well as eddy characteristics are determined using the statistical analysis. According to in situ observations some of the observed small eddies are generated due to a strong tidal flow around the underwater hills. A significant part of the observed eddies have been detected in the straits and near hydrological fronts, which indicates their important contribution to the processes of water exchange and mixing