Revisit the Vertical Structure of the Eddies and Eddy‐Induced Transport in the Leeuwin Current System

Abstract

Introduction Circulation and Eddies in the Leeuwin Current SystemThe circulation of the eastern boundary of the south Indian Ocean (SIO) (Figure 1) is dominated by Leeuwin Current (LC) system, that is, the poleward-flowing LC in the upper layer (shallower than 300 m), which transport warm and the fresh water of tropical origin (Feng et al., 2003), and equatorward-flowing Leeuwin Undercurrent (LUC) in the lower layer (300-800 m), which transport the Sub-Antarctic Mode Water (SAMW) from south of Australia (Talley et al., 2011). It is unique that the poleward-flowing eastern boundary current is above the equatorward-flowing current, which is opposite to the other major eastern boundary current system. In the interior SIO, the upper ocean (shallower than 300 m) is dominated by eastward flows, which tend to split into serval jets, while the subsurface (deeper than 300 m) is dominated by westward flows (Menezes et al., 2014). A large fraction of the upper layer eastward flow from the interior SIO enters the LC, sinks into the LUC, and then exits as the westward subsurface flow, forming a zonal overturning circulation (Furue et al., 2017).

Cross‐Slope Heat and Salt Transport Induced by Slope Intrusion Eddy's Horizontal Asymmetry in the Northern South China Sea

“…We used Argo data to validate the temperature and salinity profiles produced by LICOM. Argo data were obtained from https://dataselection.euro-argo.eu/, and we performed quality control of temperature and salinity using the method of He et al (2021). During 2007-2017, one Argo float (No.…”

Seasonality of Four Types of Baroclinic Instability in the Global Oceans

“…In addition to surface mesoscale eddies, subsurface eddies also play an important role in material and energy transport in the ocean (Li et al., 2017; Pelland et al., 2013; Xu et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2015, 2017). For example, some recent studies argued that subsurface mesoscale eddies could lead to comparable heat transport to that of surface mesoscale eddies (Dilmahamod et al., 2019; He et al., 2021).…”

Estimating Three‐Dimensional Structures of Eddy in the South Indian Ocean From the Satellite Observations Based on the isQG Method

“…He et al., 2021; Riser et al., 2016), historical data can only support an understanding of the general 3D structure of eddies (D. Dong et al., 2017; Y. He et al., 2021; Z. Zhang et al., 2014); it is a challenge to fully capture evolving oceanic eddies in terms of their specific 3D structures from in situ observations. Previous studies have used composite analyses (Y.…”

“…Previous studies have used composite analyses (Y. He et al., 2021; Nencioli et al., 2018; Y. Yang et al., 2019; Z. Zhang et al., 2014) or the analytical solution of the eddy's mean structure (Z. Zhang, Zhang, et al., 2013), along with sea level anomaly (SLA) and in situ observations, to composite the 3D structure of the eddy. In places like the Kuroshio and South China Sea, where in situ observations are occasionally sufficient, such composite approaches have been successfully implemented (Qiu & Chen, 2005; G. Yang et al., 2013; Y. Yang et al., 2019; Z. Zhang, Zhao, et al., 2013).…”

“…Despite the increase of in situ observations over the past two decades (Brett et al, 2020;Z. He et al, 2021;Riser et al, 2016), historical data can only support an understanding of the general 3D structure of eddies (D. Dong et al, 2017;Y. He et al, 2021;; it is a challenge to fully capture evolving oceanic eddies in terms of their specific 3D structures from in situ observations.…”