Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Image-based Lagrangian Particle Tracking in Bed-load Experiments
Published on: July 20, 2017
Resolution dependency of sinking Lagrangian particles in ocean general circulation models
Peter D Nooteboom1,2, Philippe Delandmeter1, Erik van Sebille1,2
1Department of Physics, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Ocean currents transport sinking particles, but low-resolution models miss crucial eddy effects. High-resolution ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) are vital for accurate particle transport simulations.
Area of Science:
- Physical Oceanography
- Marine Biogeochemistry
- Climate Modeling
Background:
- Ocean currents drive horizontal transport of sinking particles, influencing their final deposition.
- Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs) are used to simulate particle movement, but resolution differences impact accuracy.
- Mesoscale eddies significantly affect particle transport, yet are often absent in lower-resolution climate models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impact of spatial and temporal resolution in OGCMs on Lagrangian particle transport.
- To compare particle transport simulations between eddying and non-eddying OGCMs.
- To assess the effectiveness of stochastic noise in parameterizing eddy effects in low-resolution models.
Main Methods:
- Simulated sinking Lagrangian particles using both low- and high-resolution global OGCMs.
- Compared particle trajectories and lateral transport in eddying versus non-eddying model outputs.
- Investigated the influence of spatial resolution (0.1° vs. 1°) and temporal resolution (daily vs. 5-day) on transport.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in particle transport were observed between eddying and non-eddying OGCMs.
- Stochastic noise effectively parameterized eddy effects in some regions, like the North Pacific gyre.
- Coarser spatial resolution had a greater impact on transport than coarser temporal resolution.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution, eddy-permitting OGCMs are essential for accurate simulations of sinking particle transport.
- Low-resolution models may produce misleading results for paleoceanographic studies and other applications.
- An online tool, planktondrift.science.uu.nl, was developed to reconstruct particle origins.
More Related Videos
11:51Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
Published on: February 22, 2018
07:31Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
Published on: September 1, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Eulerian and Lagrangian Flow Descriptions
The Eulerian method focuses on fixed points in space where fluid properties, such as velocity, pressure, and temperature, are observed as the fluid moves between these...
Typical Model Studies
Modeling and Similitude
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies