Overestimated eddy kinetic energy in the eddy‐rich regions simulated by eddy-resolving global ocean–sea ice models

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Other Authors: Ding, Mengrong (author), Liu, Hailong (author), Lin, Pengfei (author), Hu, Aixue (author), Meng, Yao (author), Li, Yiwen (author), Liu, Kexiu (author)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic; Oyashio; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098370

The performance of eddy-resolving global ocean-sea ice models in simulating mesoscale eddies is evaluated using six eddy-resolving experiments forced by different atmospheric reanalysis products. Interestingly, eddy-resolving ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) tend to simulate more (less) energetic eddy-rich (eddy-poor) regions with a smaller (larger) spatial extent than satellite observation, which finally shows that larger (smaller) mesoscale energy intensity (EI) is simulated in the eddy-rich (eddy-poor) regions. Quantitatively, there is an approximately 27%-60% overestimation of EI in the eddy-rich regions, which are mainly located in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension, the Gulf Stream, and the Antarctic Circumpolar Currents regions, although the global mean EI is underestimated by 25%-45%. Apparently, the eddy kinetic energy in the eddy-poor region is underestimated. Further analyses based on coherent mesoscale eddy properties show that the overestimation in the eddy-rich regions is mainly attributed to mesoscale eddies' intensity and is more prominent when mesoscale eddies are in their growth stage. 1852977 1947282 DE-SC0022070