Eddy generation and evolution in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent (NPSC) zone

Lin Kang; Fan Wang; Yongli Chen

doi:10.1007/s00343-010-9010-9

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Eddy generation and evolution in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent (NPSC) zone

Updated：2023-05-16

- Eddy generation and evolution in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent (NPSC) zone
- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 28, Issue 5, Pages: 968-973(2010)
- Affiliations：
  
  1. Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences
  2. Key Laboratory of Circulation and Waves Chinese Academy of Sciences
  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Author bio：
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-010-9010-9
  CLC：
- Online First：11 September 2010，
  
  Published：2010
- Accepted：
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Kang, L., Wang, F. & Chen, Y. Eddy generation and evolution in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent (NPSC) zone., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 28, 968–973 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9010-9
DOI：

Kang, L., Wang, F. & Chen, Y. Eddy generation and evolution in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent (NPSC) zone., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 28, 968–973 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9010-9 DOI：

摘要

Abstract

The seasonal generation and evolution of eddies in the region of the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent remain poorly understood due to the scarcity of available data. We used TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry data from 1992 to 2007 to study the eddy field in this zone. We found that velocity shear between this region and the neighboring North Equatorial Current contributes greatly to the eddy generation. Furthermore

the eddy kinetic energy level (EKE) shows an annual cycle

maximum in April/May and minimum in December/January. Analyses of the temporal and spatial distributions of the eddy field revealed clearly that the velocity shear closely related to baroclinic instability processes. The eddy field seems to be more zonal than meridional

and the energy containing length scale shows a surprising lag of 2–3 months in comparison with the 1-D and 2-D EKE level. A similar phenomenon is observed in individual eddies in this zone. The results show that in this eddy field band

the velocity shear may drive the EKE level change so that the eddy field takes another 2–3 months to grow and interact to reach a relatively stable state. This explains the seasonal evolution of identifiable eddies.

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references

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