Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge
The South-West Indian Ridge in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean is a region recognised for the creation of particularly intense eddy disturbances in the mean flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Eddies formed at this ridge have been extensively studied over the past decade using hydrogr...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Academy of Science of South Africa
2011
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doaj.org/article/c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f |
id |
fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f 2023-05-15T13:56:28+02:00 Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge Jonathan Durgadoo Isabelle Ansorge Beverly de Cuevas Johann Lutjeharms Andrew Coward 2011-11-01 https://doaj.org/article/c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f en eng Academy of Science of South Africa 1996-7489 https://doaj.org/article/c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f undefined South African Journal of Science, Vol 107, Iss 11/12 (2011) eddy kinetic energy hotspot Southern Ocean DEIMEC OCCAM Prince Edward Islands envir geo Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2011 fttriple 2023-01-22T19:37:54Z The South-West Indian Ridge in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean is a region recognised for the creation of particularly intense eddy disturbances in the mean flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Eddies formed at this ridge have been extensively studied over the past decade using hydrographic, satellite, drifter and float data and it is hypothesised that they could provide a vehicle for localised meridional heat and salt exchange. The effectiveness of this process is dependent on the rate of decay of the eddies. However, in order to investigate eddy decay, logistically difficult hydrographic monitoring is required. This study presents the decay of cold eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge, using outputs from a high-resolution ocean model. The model's representation of the dynamic nature of this region is fully characteristic of observations. On average, 3-4 intense and well-defined cold eddies are generated per year; these eddies have mean longevities of 5.0±2.2 months with average advection speeds of 5±2 km/day. Most simulated eddies reach their peak intensity within 1.5-2.5 months after genesis and have depths of 2000 m - 3000 m. Thereafter they dissipate within approximately 3 months. The decay of eddies is generally characterised by a decrease in their sea surface height signature, a weakening in their rotation rates and a modification in their temperature-salinity characteristics. Subantarctic top predators are suspected to forage preferentially along the edges of eddies. The process of eddy dissipation may thus influence their feeding behaviour. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Prince Edward Islands Southern Ocean Unknown Antarctic Indian Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Unknown |
op_collection_id |
fttriple |
language |
English |
topic |
eddy kinetic energy hotspot Southern Ocean DEIMEC OCCAM Prince Edward Islands envir geo |
spellingShingle |
eddy kinetic energy hotspot Southern Ocean DEIMEC OCCAM Prince Edward Islands envir geo Jonathan Durgadoo Isabelle Ansorge Beverly de Cuevas Johann Lutjeharms Andrew Coward Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
topic_facet |
eddy kinetic energy hotspot Southern Ocean DEIMEC OCCAM Prince Edward Islands envir geo |
description |
The South-West Indian Ridge in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean is a region recognised for the creation of particularly intense eddy disturbances in the mean flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Eddies formed at this ridge have been extensively studied over the past decade using hydrographic, satellite, drifter and float data and it is hypothesised that they could provide a vehicle for localised meridional heat and salt exchange. The effectiveness of this process is dependent on the rate of decay of the eddies. However, in order to investigate eddy decay, logistically difficult hydrographic monitoring is required. This study presents the decay of cold eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge, using outputs from a high-resolution ocean model. The model's representation of the dynamic nature of this region is fully characteristic of observations. On average, 3-4 intense and well-defined cold eddies are generated per year; these eddies have mean longevities of 5.0±2.2 months with average advection speeds of 5±2 km/day. Most simulated eddies reach their peak intensity within 1.5-2.5 months after genesis and have depths of 2000 m - 3000 m. Thereafter they dissipate within approximately 3 months. The decay of eddies is generally characterised by a decrease in their sea surface height signature, a weakening in their rotation rates and a modification in their temperature-salinity characteristics. Subantarctic top predators are suspected to forage preferentially along the edges of eddies. The process of eddy dissipation may thus influence their feeding behaviour. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jonathan Durgadoo Isabelle Ansorge Beverly de Cuevas Johann Lutjeharms Andrew Coward |
author_facet |
Jonathan Durgadoo Isabelle Ansorge Beverly de Cuevas Johann Lutjeharms Andrew Coward |
author_sort |
Jonathan Durgadoo |
title |
Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
title_short |
Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
title_full |
Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
title_fullStr |
Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
title_full_unstemmed |
Decay of eddies at the South-West Indian Ridge |
title_sort |
decay of eddies at the south-west indian ridge |
publisher |
Academy of Science of South Africa |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doaj.org/article/c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f |
geographic |
Antarctic Indian Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Indian Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Prince Edward Islands Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Prince Edward Islands Southern Ocean |
op_source |
South African Journal of Science, Vol 107, Iss 11/12 (2011) |
op_relation |
1996-7489 https://doaj.org/article/c25a18831d39483886285c2a54d4bc8f |
op_rights |
undefined |
_version_ |
1766263973613666304 |