Lagrangian velocity distribution in a high-resolution numerical simulation of the North Atlantic

We study the statistical properties of Lagrangian velocities in a high-resolution numerical simulation of the North Atlantic. Consistent with previous analyses of float trajectories, we show that the velocity distribution is non-Gaussian, both at the surface and at 1500 m. These results can have significant implications on oceanographic research as they suggest that parameterization of particle dispersion by linear stochastic processes or eddy-diffusivity approaches, both of which assume Gaussian velocities, may lead to incorrect results. Correspondingly, these results indicate the need for empirical parameterizations of particle dispersion based on nonlinear stochastic processes.