Global contributions of mesoscale dynamics to meridional heat transport ...

• Main Author: Delman, Andrew
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Root 2023
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48577/jpl.g1izkc; https://dataverse.jpl.nasa.gov/citation?persistentId=doi:10.48577/jpl.G1IZKC

Mesoscale ocean processes are prevalent in many parts of the global oceans, and may contribute substantially to the meridional movement of heat. Yet earlier global surveys of meridional heat transport (MHT) have not formally distinguished between mesoscale and large-scale contributions, or have defined eddy contributions based on temporal rather than spatial characteristics. This work uses spatial filtering methods to separate large-scale (gyre/planetary wave) contributions from mesoscale (eddy/recirculation) contributions to MHT by extending beyond a previous effort for the North Atlantic Ocean. Overall, mesoscale temperature fluxes produce a net poleward MHT at mid-latitudes and equatorward MHT in the tropics, thereby resulting in a net divergence of heat from the subtropics. Mesoscale temperature fluxes are often concentrated near the energetic currents at western boundaries, and the temperature difference between the boundary current and its recirculation determines the direction of the mesoscale ...