Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-701-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-701-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
25 Nov 2015
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 25 Nov 2015
A dynamical systems approach to the surface search for debris associated with the disappearance of flight MH370
V. J. García-Garrido
Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas, CSIC-UAM-UC3M-UCM. C/Nicolás Cabrera 15, Campus de Cantoblanco UAM, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas, CSIC-UAM-UC3M-UCM. C/Nicolás Cabrera 15, Campus de Cantoblanco UAM, 28049 Madrid, Spain
S. Wiggins
School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
C. Mendoza
ETSI Navales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Av. Arco de la Victoria 4, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Cited
29 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Using Lagrangian descriptors to calculate the Maslov index of periodic orbits J. Montes et al. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.014213
- Global Oceanic Mass Transport by Coherent Eddies Q. Xia et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-21-0103.1
- Performance of Lagrangian descriptors and their variants in incompressible flows A. Ruiz-Herrera https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4966176
- Path-Based Divergence Rates and Lagrangian Uncertainty in Stochastic Flows M. Branicki & K. Uda https://doi.org/10.1137/21M1466530
- Structured pathways in the turbulence organizing recent oil spill events in the Eastern Mediterranean G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07350-w
- A Theoretical Framework for Lagrangian Descriptors C. Lopesino et al. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127417300014
- A simple kinematic model for the Lagrangian description of relevant nonlinear processes in the stratospheric polar vortex V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-24-265-2017
- Coverage Strategy for Target Location in Marine Environments Using Fixed-Wing UAVs J. Muñoz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones5040120
- Detecting and tracking eddies in oceanic flow fields: a Lagrangian descriptor based on the modulus of vorticity R. Vortmeyer-Kley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-23-159-2016
- Markov-chain-inspired search for MH370 P. Miron et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092132
- Finding NHIM: Identifying high dimensional phase space structures in reaction dynamics using Lagrangian descriptors S. Naik et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2019.104907
- Dynamical systems for remote validation of very high-resolution ocean models G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-024-09528-5
- A Lagrangian uncertainty quantification approach to validate ocean model datasets G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2025.134690
- Learning ocean circulation models with reservoir computing K. Yao et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0119061
- Finding normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds in two and three degrees of freedom with Hénon-Heiles-type potential S. Naik & S. Wiggins https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022204
- Active learning in robotics: A review of control principles A. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechatronics.2021.102576
- Insights into the three-dimensional Lagrangian geometry of the Antarctic polar vortex J. Curbelo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-24-379-2017
- The Application of Lagrangian Descriptors to 3D Vector Fields V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1560354718050052
- Very High Resolution Tools for the Monitoring and Assessment of Environmental Hazards in Coastal Areas G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.605804
- Adjoint Method-Based Algorithm for Calculating the Relative Dispersion Ratio in a Hydrodynamic System F. Ji et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4493-x
- New links between invariant dynamical structures and uncertainty quantification G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2023.133826
- Consideration of various aspects in a drift study of MH370 debris O. Nesterov https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-387-2018
- Search strategy in a complex and dynamic environment: the MH370 case S. Ivić et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76274-0
- Hyperbolic structure for multiplicative noise saddle using Lagrangian descriptors H. Liao & J. Yang https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2025.108971
- Lagrangian coherent structure assisted path planning for transoceanic autonomous underwater vehicle missions A. Ramos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23028-8
- A dynamical systems perspective for a real-time response to a marine oil spill V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.018
- Lagrangian Descriptors for Stochastic Differential Equations: A Tool for Revealing the Phase Portrait of Stochastic Dynamical Systems F. Balibrea-Iniesta et al. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127416300366
- A perturbation-theoretic approach to Lagrangian flow networks N. Fujiwara et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4978549
- Linking dynamics, geometry, and environmental challenges A. Mancho https://doi.org/10.1007/s40324-025-00408-5
29 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Using Lagrangian descriptors to calculate the Maslov index of periodic orbits J. Montes et al. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.014213
- Global Oceanic Mass Transport by Coherent Eddies Q. Xia et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-21-0103.1
- Performance of Lagrangian descriptors and their variants in incompressible flows A. Ruiz-Herrera https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4966176
- Path-Based Divergence Rates and Lagrangian Uncertainty in Stochastic Flows M. Branicki & K. Uda https://doi.org/10.1137/21M1466530
- Structured pathways in the turbulence organizing recent oil spill events in the Eastern Mediterranean G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07350-w
- A Theoretical Framework for Lagrangian Descriptors C. Lopesino et al. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127417300014
- A simple kinematic model for the Lagrangian description of relevant nonlinear processes in the stratospheric polar vortex V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-24-265-2017
- Coverage Strategy for Target Location in Marine Environments Using Fixed-Wing UAVs J. Muñoz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones5040120
- Detecting and tracking eddies in oceanic flow fields: a Lagrangian descriptor based on the modulus of vorticity R. Vortmeyer-Kley et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-23-159-2016
- Markov-chain-inspired search for MH370 P. Miron et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092132
- Finding NHIM: Identifying high dimensional phase space structures in reaction dynamics using Lagrangian descriptors S. Naik et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2019.104907
- Dynamical systems for remote validation of very high-resolution ocean models G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-024-09528-5
- A Lagrangian uncertainty quantification approach to validate ocean model datasets G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2025.134690
- Learning ocean circulation models with reservoir computing K. Yao et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0119061
- Finding normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds in two and three degrees of freedom with Hénon-Heiles-type potential S. Naik & S. Wiggins https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022204
- Active learning in robotics: A review of control principles A. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechatronics.2021.102576
- Insights into the three-dimensional Lagrangian geometry of the Antarctic polar vortex J. Curbelo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-24-379-2017
- The Application of Lagrangian Descriptors to 3D Vector Fields V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1560354718050052
- Very High Resolution Tools for the Monitoring and Assessment of Environmental Hazards in Coastal Areas G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.605804
- Adjoint Method-Based Algorithm for Calculating the Relative Dispersion Ratio in a Hydrodynamic System F. Ji et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-021-4493-x
- New links between invariant dynamical structures and uncertainty quantification G. García-Sánchez et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2023.133826
- Consideration of various aspects in a drift study of MH370 debris O. Nesterov https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-387-2018
- Search strategy in a complex and dynamic environment: the MH370 case S. Ivić et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76274-0
- Hyperbolic structure for multiplicative noise saddle using Lagrangian descriptors H. Liao & J. Yang https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2025.108971
- Lagrangian coherent structure assisted path planning for transoceanic autonomous underwater vehicle missions A. Ramos et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23028-8
- A dynamical systems perspective for a real-time response to a marine oil spill V. García-Garrido et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.018
- Lagrangian Descriptors for Stochastic Differential Equations: A Tool for Revealing the Phase Portrait of Stochastic Dynamical Systems F. Balibrea-Iniesta et al. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127416300366
- A perturbation-theoretic approach to Lagrangian flow networks N. Fujiwara et al. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4978549
- Linking dynamics, geometry, and environmental challenges A. Mancho https://doi.org/10.1007/s40324-025-00408-5
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 11 Sep 2026
Short summary
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on 8 March 2014 is one of the great mysteries of our time. The most relevant aspect is that not a piece of debris was found during the intensive surface search carried out for roughly 2 months following the crash. By combining different ocean data with dynamical systems tools, we propose a revised search strategy by showing why debris could not have been expected in some targeted search areas and determining regions where debris could be.
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on 8 March 2014 is one of the great...
