A Maxey-Riley modeling framework for Sargassum raft drift
Sargassum seaweed has historically been found in the subtropical North Atlantic gyre, providing key habitat for marine species. Since 2011, the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt in the equatorial Atlantic has increased its abundance, leading to massive shore strandings. These have significant ecological, economic, and health impacts. Predicting affected areas requires understanding Sargassum raft motion, which differs from Lagrangian particle motion as they are finite-size, buoyant objects influenced by currents, wind, and waves. This presentation will describe a Maxey-Riley model for Sargassum raft dynamics, considering their inertia, elastic interactions, and physiological changes. Focus will be on the elastic interactions that drive clustering within oceanic eddies, varying with eddy polarity. Theoretical insights will be supported by field and lab experiments. Joint work with F. J. Beron-Vera and G. Bonner.
Contact Achim Wirth for more information or to schedule a discussion with the seminar speaker.