Eddy-induced transport and kinetic energy budget in the Arabian Sea

by P. Zhan, D. Guo, I. Hoteit
Article Year:2020 DOI: 10.1029/2020gl090490

Abstract

This study investigates the vertical eddy structure, eddy-induced transport, and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) budget in the Arabian Sea (AS) using an eddy-resolving reanalysis product. The EKE intensifies during summer in the western AS. Anticyclonic eddies (AEs) and cyclonic eddies (CEs) present warm-fresh and cold-salty cores, respectively, with interleaved salinity structures. The eddy-induced swirl transport is larger in the western AS and tends to compensate for heat transport by the mean flow. Zonal drift transport by AEs and CEs offset each other, and meridional transport is generally weaker. Eddies also produce notable upward heat flux during summer in the western AS, where ageostrophic circulations are induced to maintain a turbulent thermal wind balance. Plausible mechanisms for EKE production are governed by baroclinic and barotropic instabilities, which are enhanced in summer in the western basin, where signals are quantitatively one order larger than the turbulent wind inputs.
KAUST

"KAUST shall be a beacon for peace, hope and reconciliation, and shall serve the people of the Kingdom and the world."

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 1924 – 2015

Contact Us

  • 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

    Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Al-Khwarizmi Building (1)

© King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved