Abstract Eulerian and Lagrangian statistics of surface velocity from eddy-permitting (0.28°, 20 levels) and eddy-resolving (0.1°, 40 levels) configurations of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Parallel Ocean Program (POP) model and drifting buoys were calculated for the years 1993-1997 in the North Atlantic. The 2°x2° binned drifter eddy kinetic energy (per unit mass) values were in good agreement with historical estimates: a maximum of roughly 3000 cm^2s^-2 was found in the Gulf Stream (38°N, 68°W), and values between 100 and 200 cm^2s^-2 were seen in the eastern basin and in the North Equatorial Current. Observed Lagrangian time and length scales typically vary from 2-4 days and 20-50 km, respectively. Unrealistic or misplaced flow features were observed in the lower resolution model and the variability was under-represented. In the higher resolution model, the structure of the flow and the variability was much more realistic relative to the drifters. Time and length scales were too long and short, respectively, in the lower resolution run, while in the higher resolution simulation the zonal scales were not statistically different from the observed values. These results demonstrate that a statistically realistic surface circulation is obtained when a horizontal resolution of 0.1° and 40 levels are used.		Abstract Introduction Model Descriptions Surface Drifters Numerical Trajectories Eulerian Statistics Mean Velocity Vectors MKE Ellipses EKE James test Lagrangian Statistics Diffusivities Time Scales Length Scales Summary Appendix A Appendix B Acronyms References Acknowledgements Forum