A modified method to estimate eddy diffusivity in the North Pacific using altimeter eddy statistics

Zhiwei Zhang; Yaru Li; Jiwei Tian

doi:10.1007/s00343-013-2214-2

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A modified method to estimate eddy diffusivity in the North Pacific using altimeter eddy statistics

Updated：2023-05-16

- A modified method to estimate eddy diffusivity in the North Pacific using altimeter eddy statistics
- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 31, Issue 4, Pages: 925-933(2013)
- Affiliations：
  
  1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography (Ocean University of China)
  2. School of Engineering University of Liverpool
- Author bio：
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-013-2214-2
  CLC：
- Online First：08 June 2013，
  
  Published：2013
- Accepted：
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Zhang, Z., Li, Y. & Tian, J. A modified method to estimate eddy diffusivity in the North Pacific using altimeter eddy statistics., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 31, 925–933 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2214-2
DOI：

Zhang, Z., Li, Y. & Tian, J. A modified method to estimate eddy diffusivity in the North Pacific using altimeter eddy statistics., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 31, 925–933 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2214-2 DOI：

摘要

Abstract

The method proposed by Stammer (1998) is modified using eddy statistics from altimeter observation to obtain more realistic eddy diffusivity (K) for the North Pacific. Compared with original estimates

the modified K has remarkably reduced values in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) and North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC) regions

but slightly enhanced values in the Subtropical Counter Current (STCC) region. In strong eastward flow areas like the KE and NECC

owing to a large difference between mean flow velocity and propagation velocity of mesoscale eddies

tracers inside the mesoscale eddies are transported outside rapidly by advection

and mixing length L is hence strongly suppressed. The low eddy probability (P) is also responsible for the reduced K in the NECC area. In the STCC region

however

L is mildly suppressed and P is very high

so K there is enhanced. The zonally-averaged K has two peaks with comparable magnitudes

in the latitude bands of the STCC and KE. In the core of KE

because of the reduced values of P and L

the zonally-averaged K is a minimum. Zonally-integrated eddy heat transport in the KE band

calculated based on the modified K

is much closer to the results of previous independent research

indicating the robustness of our modified K. The map of modified K provides useful informationfor modeling studies in the North Pacific.

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references

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