Scholarlink

<p>Ocean mesoscale variability, including meanders and eddies, is a crucial component of the global ocean circulation. The Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) of these features accounts for about 90% of the ocean’s total kinetic energy. This study investigates if the global ocean mesoscale variability is becoming more energetic by analyzing 30 years of satellite altimetric observations. We use two observational products: one constructed from a consistent pair of altimeters and another including all available missions. Our results reveal a significant global EKE strengthening of 1–3% per decade. The intensification is concentrated in energetic regions, particularly in the Kuroshio Extension and the Gulf Stream, which show EKE increases of ~ 50% and ~ 20%, respectively, over the last decade. These observations raise new questions about the impact of the Gulf Stream strengthening on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and challenge existing climate models, emphasizing the need for improved representation of small-scale ocean processes.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Kuroshio Extension and Gulf Stream dominate the Eddy Kinetic Energy intensification observed in the global ocean

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月1日

查看全文
  • Bàrbara Barceló-Llull,
  • Pere Rosselló,
  • Vincent Combes,
  • Antonio Sánchez-Román,
  • M. Isabelle Pujol,
  • Ananda Pascual

摘要

Ocean mesoscale variability, including meanders and eddies, is a crucial component of the global ocean circulation. The Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) of these features accounts for about 90% of the ocean’s total kinetic energy. This study investigates if the global ocean mesoscale variability is becoming more energetic by analyzing 30 years of satellite altimetric observations. We use two observational products: one constructed from a consistent pair of altimeters and another including all available missions. Our results reveal a significant global EKE strengthening of 1–3% per decade. The intensification is concentrated in energetic regions, particularly in the Kuroshio Extension and the Gulf Stream, which show EKE increases of ~ 50% and ~ 20%, respectively, over the last decade. These observations raise new questions about the impact of the Gulf Stream strengthening on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and challenge existing climate models, emphasizing the need for improved representation of small-scale ocean processes.