Lagrangian modelling of ocean transport

Problem addressed

Ocean transport determines the dispersal of pollutants, ecosystem connectivity and the distribution of species of fisheries interest. Without specific tools, it is difficult to predict the fate of marine litter, assess environmental risks or plan resource management and emergency response measures.

What we do and how we do it

• We apply 3D Lagrangian models driven by data from AZTI’s ocean and coastal modelling systems.
• We carry out drifter buoy campaigns to validate and fine-tune the models, generating real-world datasets on ocean transport.
• We study dispersal processes across a range of applications:
  • Marine litter and plastic pellets.
  • Eggs, larvae and eDNA to assess population connectivity and recruitment.
  • Fish aggregating devices (FADs and AFADs) to analyse trajectories and drift patterns.
  • Harmful organisms such as Ostreopsis and their dispersal in coastal waters.
• We transfer the results to public authorities, the fisheries sector and environmental managers, generating knowledge that can be directly applied to decision-making.
• We combine this approach with transport studies in other geographical areas, always applying state-of-the-art methodologies.

Key benefits

• Prediction and monitoring of the dispersal of pollutants and marine litter.
• Key information for fisheries resource management and ecosystem protection.
• Assessment of risks associated with invasive or harmful species.
• Knowledge applicable to maritime emergency planning.
• Results based on the integration of observation, modelling and field validation.