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Ocean eddy momentum fluxes at the latitudes of the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio extensions as revealed by satellite data

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Abstract

Eddy momentum fluxes, i.e. Reynold stresses, are computed for the latitude bands of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio extensions using 13 years of data from the merged satellite altimeter product of Le Traon et al. The spatial pattern and amplitude of the fluxes is remarkably similar to that found by Ducet and Le Traon using the 5 years of data that were available to them. In addition to updating the work of Ducet and Le Traon, we provide new insight into the role played by the underlying variable bottom topography, both for determining the structure of the eddy momentum fluxes seen in the satellite data and for influencing the way these fluxes feedback on the mean flow. While there is no clear evidence that eddies locally flux momentum into the eastward jets of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio extensions, a clearer picture emerges after zonally integrating across each of the North Atlantic and North Pacific basins. We argue that the eddy momentum fluxes do indeed drive significant transport, a conclusion supported by preliminary results from a 3-D model calculation. We also present evidence that in the North Pacific, the Reynolds stresses are important for driving the recirculation gyres associated with the Kuroshio extension, taking advantage of new data from both observations and high-resolution model simulations.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to an anonymous reviewer whose comments proved helpful when revising the manuscript. This work has been funded by IFM-GEOMAR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany

    Richard John Greatbatch, Jan-Dirk Kohlmann & Lars Czeschel

  2. Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Xiaoming Zhai

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  1. Richard John Greatbatch
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Correspondence to Richard John Greatbatch.

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Appendix

Appendix

The model is the MIT ocean general circulation model (see Marshall et al. (1997)). The model domain covers the North Atlantic basin from 100°W to 16°E and from 18°S to 72°N, uses realistic bottom topography (see Fig. 9) and is run with constant, uniform density. The horizontal resolution is one sixth degree in latitude and longitude. The model uses a height vertical coordinate and is run using partially filled cells at the bottom. There are 45 levels in the vertical with the spacing varying from 10 m near the surface to 250 m near the maximum depth of 5,500 m. The bottom topography is taken from the ETOPO5 data set. A biharmonic horizontal eddy viscosity is used with a value of 3 × 1010 m4s−1, together with a vertical eddy viscosity with value 0.001 m2s−1. A linear bottom drag is implemented with coefficient 0.001 m2s−1. The only forcings used to drive the model are the Reynolds stresses derived from the satellite data and presented in this paper. It is assumed, for simplicity, that the Reynolds stresses vary linearly with depth from the surface to the bottom to reflect the equivalent barotropic vertical structure of eddies in the ocean (e.g. Wunsch (1997)). The model is run to steady state and it is the output in steady state that is shown in Fig. 8.

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Greatbatch, R.J., Zhai, X., Kohlmann, JD. et al. Ocean eddy momentum fluxes at the latitudes of the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio extensions as revealed by satellite data. Ocean Dynamics 60, 617–628 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-010-0282-6

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