<i>Sargassum</i> spp. accumulation and transport by mesoscale eddies
<p>The proliferation of pelagic <i>Sargassum</i> spp. (<i>Sargassum</i>) in the tropical Atlantic has significant ecological and socioeconomic impacts. While large-scale ocean circulation patterns influence the basin-scale distribution of <i>Sargassum</i>, t...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | https://os.copernicus.org/articles/21/1505/2025/os-21-1505-2025.pdf |
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| Summary: | <p>The proliferation of pelagic <i>Sargassum</i> spp. (<i>Sargassum</i>) in the tropical Atlantic has significant ecological and socioeconomic impacts. While large-scale ocean circulation patterns influence the basin-scale distribution of <i>Sargassum</i>, the role of mesoscale eddies in their local accumulation and transport has not been quantitatively assessed so far. This study investigates the relationship between mesoscale eddies and <i>Sargassum</i> dynamics using satellite observations. By analyzing 13 years of remote sensing observations, we demonstrate that both cyclonic and anticyclonic long-lived mesoscale eddies can trap and transport <i>Sargassum</i>. However, results show that, in cyclonic eddies, <i>Sargassum</i> cover is higher and tends to accumulate during its lifetime, while within anticyclonic eddies the <i>Sargassum</i> cover is usually weaker and tends to decrease. These findings align with recent studies highlighting the role of eddies in shaping the distribution of floating debris and provide an important observational basis for the development of <i>Sargassum</i> drift models.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |