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Seasonal Modulation of Eddy Kinetic Energy and Its Formation Mechanism in the Southeast Indian Ocean

Seasonal Modulation of Eddy Kinetic Energy and Its Formation Mechanism in the Southeast Indian Ocean Mesoscale eddy activity in the southeast Indian Ocean (15°°––30°°S, 60°°––110°°E) is investigated based on available satellite altimetry observations. The observed sea level anomaly data show that this region is the only eastern basin among the global oceans where strong eddy activity exists. Furthermore, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) level in this region displays a distinct seasonal cycle with the maximum in austral summer and minimum in austral winter. It is found that this seasonal modulation of EKE is mediated by baroclinic instability associated with the surface-intensified South Indian Countercurrent (SICC) and the underlying South Equatorial Current (SEC) system. In austral spring and summer the enhanced flux forcing of combined meridional Ekman and geostrophic convergence strengthens the upper-ocean meridional temperature gradient, intensifying the SICC front and its vertical velocity shear. Modulation of the vertical velocity shear results in the seasonal changes in the strength of baroclinic instability, leading to the seasonal EKE variations in the southeast Indian Ocean. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Physical Oceanography American Meteorological Society

Seasonal Modulation of Eddy Kinetic Energy and Its Formation Mechanism in the Southeast Indian Ocean

Jia, Fan; Wu, Lixin; Qiu, Bo
Journal of Physical Oceanography , Volume 41 (4) – Jan 21, 2010
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Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 American Meteorological Society
ISSN
1520-0485
DOI
10.1175/2010JPO4436.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Mesoscale eddy activity in the southeast Indian Ocean (15°°––30°°S, 60°°––110°°E) is investigated based on available satellite altimetry observations. The observed sea level anomaly data show that this region is the only eastern basin among the global oceans where strong eddy activity exists. Furthermore, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) level in this region displays a distinct seasonal cycle with the maximum in austral summer and minimum in austral winter. It is found that this seasonal modulation of EKE is mediated by baroclinic instability associated with the surface-intensified South Indian Countercurrent (SICC) and the underlying South Equatorial Current (SEC) system. In austral spring and summer the enhanced flux forcing of combined meridional Ekman and geostrophic convergence strengthens the upper-ocean meridional temperature gradient, intensifying the SICC front and its vertical velocity shear. Modulation of the vertical velocity shear results in the seasonal changes in the strength of baroclinic instability, leading to the seasonal EKE variations in the southeast Indian Ocean.

Journal

Journal of Physical Oceanography – American Meteorological Society

Published: Jan 21, 2010

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