Modeling study of the submesoscale mixed layer mixing in the Gulf of Mexico

Lagrangian tracking data using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) model at 1km and 5km horizontal resolution to simulate the behavior of passive tracers under submesoscale circulations in the Gulf of Mexico. Lagrangian particles are then released at different depths and in different months of 2015 and 2016 to investigate the impact of submesoscale motions on the eddy vertical transport in different seasons. Results are relevant to understand how upper ocean submesoscale mixing may contribute to the vertical exchange of biological tracers such as nutrients and phytoplankton.