Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-701-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-701-2015
Research article
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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, A. M. Mancho, S. Wiggins, and C. Mendoza

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Cited articles

ATSB: Australian Transport Safety Bureau: MH370 – Definition of Underwater Search Areas, available at: http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5243942/ae-2014-054_mh370_-_definition_of_underwater_search_areas_18aug2014.pdf (last access: 29 July 2015), 2014a.
ATSB: Australian Transport Safety Bureau: MH370 – Flight Path Analysis Update, available at: http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5163181/AE-2014-054_MH370_-FlightPathAnalysisUpdate.pdf (last access: 29 July 2015), 2014b.
Aurell, E., Boffeta, G., Crisanti, A., Paladin, G., and Vulpiani, A.: Predictability in the large: An extension of the concept of Lyapunov exponent, J. Phys. A, 30, 1–26, 1997.
Beron-Vera, F. J., Olascoaga, M. J., and Goni, G. J.: Surface Ocean Mixing Inferred from Different Multisatellite Altimetry Measurements, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 40, 2466–2480, 2010.
Beron-Vera, F. J., Olascoaga, M. J., Haller, G., Farazmand, M., Trinanes, J., and Wang, Y.: Dissipative inertial transport patterns near coherent Lagrangian eddies in the ocean, Chaos, 25, 087412, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4928693, 2015.
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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.