Eddy-induced pycnocline depth displacement over the global ocean

Chen, Xiaoyan; Li, Haitao; Cao, Chuanchuan; Chen, Ge

doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2021.103577

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Likewise, Chen et al. (2021) reported that eddies induce an average vertical displacement of the pycnocline of the same order of magnitude in tropical regions. As a result of the pycnocline vertical displacement, more than 90% of the new‐born eddies that do not have significant isopycnal θ' anomalies, exhibit significant θ' in depth coordinates.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Although not associated with significant isopycnal θ', these eddies are associated with an average vertical displacement of ±10 m of their isopycnal levels, similar to those observed in eddies with significant anomalies, which shows that both type of vortices are associated with dynamical signature of similar strength. Likewise, Chen et al, (2021) reported that eddies induce an average vertical displacement of the pycnocline of the same order of magnitude in tropical regions. As a result of the pycnocline vertical displacement, more than 90% of the new-born eddies that do not have significant isopycnal θ' anomalies, exhibit significant θ' in depth coordinates.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Isopycnal Temperature Anomalies In Tao New-born Eddiesmentioning

confidence: 82%

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What Can We Learn From Observed Temperature and Salinity Isopycnal Anomalies at Eddy Generation Sites? Application in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

et al. 2021

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Isopycnal Temperature Anomalies In Tao New-born Eddiesmentioning

confidence: 82%

What Can We Learn From Observed Temperature and Salinity Isopycnal Anomalies at Eddy Generation Sites? Application in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

et al. 2021

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“…Argo floats are aimed at observing significant temporal (seasonal and longer) and spatial (thousands of kilometers) scale subsurface (to a depth of 2,000 m) ocean variability worldwide (Roemmich et al, 2009). The Argo project is the first global observation system for the subsurface ocean and is one of the best sources for in-situ temperature measurements (Chen et al, 2021b). Because of its unprecedented spatiotemporal sampling and coverage, the Argo project has created an enormous dataset of subsurface T and S records that can be used to study the distribution and variability in MLD.…”

Section: Argo Floatmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of normal and abnormal eddies on the mixed layer depth in the global ocean

2023

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Mesoscale eddies are broadly distributed over the global ocean and play a significant role in modulating the spatiotemporal evolution of mixed layer depth (MLD). The presence of abnormal eddies in the ocean has been shown; however, the precise quantification of the effect of eddies on MLD, given the case of abnormal eddies, has not been carried out thus far. Differently from the previous approach to identify abnormal eddies through sea surface temperature, we therefore, proposed a method to identify abnormal eddies, using potential density based on Argo data (Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) for 15 years from 2003 to 2017. Results showed that abnormal anticyclonic eddies (AAE) and abnormal cyclonic eddies (ACE) accounted for 21.67% and 20.17% of total matching anticyclonic eddies (TAE) and the total matching cyclonic eddies (TCE), respectively, in the global ocean. The proportions of abnormal eddies were relatively higher in tropical regions but lower in regions with the boundary current and strong eddy kinetic energy. The MLD changes caused by normal and abnormal eddies were estimated combining satellite altimetry data. The normal eddies were the total matching eddies with the removal of the abnormal eddies, separately called normal anticyclonic eddies (NAE) and normal cyclonic eddies (NCE). The overall influence of NAE (NCE) was more significant on MLD deepening (uplifting) than that of TAE (TCE). Globally, NAE (NCE) changed MLD deepening (uplifting) from ~66 m (~54 m) to ~67 m (~53 m) and exhibited a more pronounced change in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean region, from ~111 m (~94 m) to ~115 m (~92 m) in the winter. AAE (ACE), exerted a relatively weak but opposite effect on MLD deepening (uplifting). In other words, the global average MLD caused by them shoaled (deepened) from ~66 m (~54 m) to ~59 m (~59 m), and the North Pacific Ocean shoaled (deepened) from ~61 m (~47 m) to ~49 m (~57 m) in winter. Given the above results, abnormal eddies should be accounted for when the impact of ocean eddies is evaluated on the global climate system.

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“…Therefore, coherent dipole eddies (an AE combined with a CE) may have natural advantages in forming wave‐like patterns. According to the statistics, the eddies occupy 43% of the oceanic area with no apparent polarity preference (Chen, Chen, & Huang, 2021; Chen, Li, et al., 2021) and more than 30% of identified mesoscale eddies are paired up as dipoles (Ni et al., 2020). Similarly, the pairwise characteristics of eddies with opposite polarity prevail in Figures 10d–10f.…”

Section: Mesoscale Eddies Masquerade As Rossby Wavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, it is well understood that weakly dispersive or nondispersive characteristics are common for linear waves and nonlinear eddies (Chelton, Schlax, & Samelson, 2011). According to Argo‐derived potential density profiles, eddies with surface amplitudes of a few centimeters can penetrate the oceanic stratification as deep as 2,000 m (e.g., Chen, Chen, & Huang, 2021; Klein & Lapeyre, 2009) and can induce pycnocline displacement more than 50 m (e.g., Chen, Li, et al., 2021). These characteristics are similar to those of Rossby waves (e.g., Cipollini et al., 2000; Siegel, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Mesoscale Eddies Masquerade as Rossby Waves in Merged Altimetric Products

2022

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The existence of Rossby waves is due to the latitudinal variation of planetary vorticity and was predicted by Carl-Gustaf Rossby in the 1930s (Dickinson, 1978. According to linear theory, there is an infinite number of normal modes of Rossby waves in a continuously stratified ocean, found by solving an eigenvalue problem and which are ordered by decreasing westward phase speeds (Gill, 1982;Pedlosky, 1986). In particular, long, first baroclinic mode Rossby waves play an important role in the local climate variability and are the primary focus of this study. These nondispersive long waves can transport energy (potential and kinetic) westward and help maintain mid-latitude gyres and intensify western boundary currents (Polito & Liu, 2003). As small sea level anomaly (SLA) variations (∼10 cm), slow westward propagation speeds (∼10 cm/s), and long wavelengths (∼1,000 km) characterize Rossby waves, the complete picture of Rossby waves in the global ocean has been difficult to observe (Chelton & Schlax, 1996. Hereafter CS96). The existence and nature of Rossby waves in patchy temperature data required careful attention, and theoretical predictions have been waiting sufficient satellite altimetric data for unequivocal confirmation (Killworth et al., 1997).

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Eddy-induced pycnocline depth displacement over the global ocean

Cited by 8 publications

References 46 publications

What Can We Learn From Observed Temperature and Salinity Isopycnal Anomalies at Eddy Generation Sites? Application in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

What Can We Learn From Observed Temperature and Salinity Isopycnal Anomalies at Eddy Generation Sites? Application in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

The effect of normal and abnormal eddies on the mixed layer depth in the global ocean

How Mesoscale Eddies Masquerade as Rossby Waves in Merged Altimetric Products

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