Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Observed deep energetic eddies by seamount wake
Chen, G.; Wang , D.; Dong, C.; Zu, T.; Xue, H.; Shu, Y.; Chu, X.; Qi, Y.; Chen, H. (2015). Observed deep energetic eddies by seamount wake. NPG Scientific Reports 5(17416): 10 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep17416
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Chen, G.
  • Wang, D.
  • Dong, C.
  • Zu, T.
  • Xue, H.
  • Shu, Y.
  • Chu, X.
  • Qi, Y.
  • Chen, H., more

Abstract
    Despite numerous surface eddies are observed in the ocean, deep eddies (a type of eddies which have no footprints at the sea surface) are much less reported in the literature due to the scarcity of their observation. In this letter, from recently collected current and temperature data by mooring arrays, a deep energetic and baroclinic eddy is detected in the northwestern South China Sea (SCS) with its intensity, size, polarity and structure being characterized. It remarkably deepens isotherm at deep layers by the amplitude of similar to 120 m and induces a maximal velocity amplitude about 0.18 m/s, which is far larger than the median velocity (0.02 m/s). The deep eddy is generated in a wake when a steering flow in the upper layer passes a seamount, induced by a surface cyclonic eddy. More observations suggest that the deep eddy should not be an episode in the area. Deep eddies significantly increase the velocity intensity and enhance the mixing in the deep ocean, also have potential implication for deep-sea sediments transport.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors