University of Tasmania
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Patterns of vertical velocity induced by eddy distortion in an ocean model

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posted on 2023-05-19, 23:19 authored by Gabriela Semolini Pilo, Oke, PR, Richard ColemanRichard Coleman, Rykova, T, Ridgway, K
Vertical motions within eddies play an important role in the exchange of properties and energy between the upper ocean and the ocean interior. Here we analyze alternating upward and downward cells in anticyclonic eddies in the East Australian Current region using a global eddy‐resolving model. The cells explain over 50% of the variance of vertical velocity within these eddies. We show that the upward and downward cells relate to eddy distortion, defined as the change in eddy shape over time. In anticyclonic eddies in the Southern Hemisphere, an inward distortion is associated with upward motion and an outward distortion is associated with downward motion. We discuss two mechanisms that link eddy distortion to vertical velocity. One mechanism relates to changes in stratification and relative vorticity in the eddy interior. The other mechanism relates to divergence of the horizontal flow in different quadrants of the eddy. We show that mesoscale changes in sea level anomaly can be used to infer the vertical motion within eddies.

History

Publication title

Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans

Volume

123

Pagination

2274-2292

ISSN

2169-9275

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2018 American Geophysical Union

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences