The plume of the Rhone (western Mediterranean) is studied with the help of a three-dimensional ocean model using primitive equations. Particular attention is paid to the wind forcing. Three simulations of realistic cases, using wind and river discharge measurements, are described. Satellite observations of the plume make it possible to assess the quality of the numerical simulation in each case. The analysis of circulation enables an evaluation of the characteristic time scales of deformations in the plume during changes in wind conditions and also highlights the high sensitivity of the plume to the surrounding circulation, dominated by coastal currents associated with upwelling and downwelling motions induced by the northwest and southeast winds .
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.