Lagrangian characterization of surface transport from the Equatorial Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea using climatological Lagrangian Coherent Structures and Self-Organizing Maps

Abstract

Current transport routes and barriers are characterized from the Equatorial Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea.• Wind forcing is a significant factor in transporting suspended material by surface ocean currents.• Different areas in the Caribbean Sea require distinct wind conditions for floating material to arrive.• Transport routes and barriers over large regions can be characterized using tools from dynamical systems and unsupervised neural networks.