Eddy characteristics in the South Indian Ocean as inferred from surface drifters
Using a geometric eddy identification method, cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies from submesoscale to mesoscale in the South Indian Ocean (SIO) have been statistically investigated based on 2082 surface drifters from 1979 to 2013. A total of 19 252 eddies are identified, 60% of them anticyclonic eddie...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-05-01
|
| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/11/361/2015/os-11-361-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | Using a geometric eddy identification method, cyclonic and anticyclonic
eddies from submesoscale to mesoscale in the South Indian Ocean (SIO) have
been statistically investigated based on 2082 surface drifters from 1979 to
2013. A total of 19 252 eddies are identified, 60% of them anticyclonic eddies. For the
submesoscale eddies (radius <i>r</i><10 km), the ratio of cyclonic eddies
(3183) to anticyclonic eddies (7182) is 1 to 2. In contrast, the number of
anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies with radius <i>r</i>≥10 km is almost equal.
Mesoscale and submesoscale eddies show different spatial distributions.
Eddies with radius <i>r</i>≥100 km mainly appear in the Leeuwin Current, a band
along 25° S, Mozambique Channel, and Agulhas Current, areas
characterized by large eddy kinetic energy. The submesoscale anticyclonic
eddies are densely distributed in the subtropical basin in the central SIO.
The number of mesoscale eddies shows statistically significant seasonal
variability, reaching a maximum in October and minimum in February. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |