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Curvature-Induced Subduction in a Cyclonic Eddy.

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Title: Curvature-Induced Subduction in a Cyclonic Eddy.
Authors: Wu, Weiguang1,2 (AUTHOR) weiguang@mit.edu, Middleton, Leo2 (AUTHOR), Tarry, Daniel R.3 (AUTHOR), D'Asaro, Eric A.4 (AUTHOR), Mahadevan, Amala2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Physical Oceanography. Dec2025, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p2313-2334. 22p.
Subjects: Subduction, Curvature, Fluid dynamics, Vortex motion, Marine ecology
Abstract: In situ observations of a 10-km-scale elliptical cyclonic eddy reveal vertical subduction of chlorophyll-rich surface waters around the edges of the eddy where the flow curvature changes abruptly. The process is explained by relating flow curvature to horizontal divergence and vortex stretching using a theoretical framework that we develop in a local flow-following reference frame. The observed signatures of subduction, which extend from the surface to depths O(100) m, coincide with estimates from the variations of curvature number around the eddy, defined as Cu ≡ V/(fR), where V is the speed, R is the radius of curvature, and f is the Coriolis parameter. An idealized model successfully simulates the observed subduction process, uncovering a three-dimensional pathway where surface waters within the cyclone subduct along the domed isopycnal surfaces and ultimately detach from the eddy as filaments. By decomposing the frontogenetic Q vector in the omega equation for vertical velocity, we identify the role of curvature-induced frontogenesis in driving subduction. Submesoscale flows exhibit highly curved flow paths, and curvature-induced frontogenesis, which differs from the traditionally emphasized confluence-induced frontogenesis, can play a significant role in modifying vertical transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Physical Oceanography is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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  Data: Curvature-Induced Subduction in a Cyclonic Eddy.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Weiguang%22">Wu, Weiguang</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> weiguang@mit.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Middleton%2C+Leo%22">Middleton, Leo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tarry%2C+Daniel+R%2E%22">Tarry, Daniel R.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22D'Asaro%2C+Eric+A%2E%22">D'Asaro, Eric A.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mahadevan%2C+Amala%22">Mahadevan, Amala</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Physical+Oceanography%22">Journal of Physical Oceanography</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p2313-2334. 22p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Subduction%22">Subduction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curvature%22">Curvature</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluid+dynamics%22">Fluid dynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vortex+motion%22">Vortex motion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Marine+ecology%22">Marine ecology</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In situ observations of a 10-km-scale elliptical cyclonic eddy reveal vertical subduction of chlorophyll-rich surface waters around the edges of the eddy where the flow curvature changes abruptly. The process is explained by relating flow curvature to horizontal divergence and vortex stretching using a theoretical framework that we develop in a local flow-following reference frame. The observed signatures of subduction, which extend from the surface to depths O(100) m, coincide with estimates from the variations of curvature number around the eddy, defined as Cu ≡ V/(fR), where V is the speed, R is the radius of curvature, and f is the Coriolis parameter. An idealized model successfully simulates the observed subduction process, uncovering a three-dimensional pathway where surface waters within the cyclone subduct along the domed isopycnal surfaces and ultimately detach from the eddy as filaments. By decomposing the frontogenetic Q vector in the omega equation for vertical velocity, we identify the role of curvature-induced frontogenesis in driving subduction. Submesoscale flows exhibit highly curved flow paths, and curvature-induced frontogenesis, which differs from the traditionally emphasized confluence-induced frontogenesis, can play a significant role in modifying vertical transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Physical Oceanography is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1175/JPO-D-25-0063.1
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 2313
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Subduction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curvature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluid dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vortex motion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Marine ecology
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Curvature-Induced Subduction in a Cyclonic Eddy.
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            NameFull: Wu, Weiguang
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            NameFull: Middleton, Leo
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            NameFull: Tarry, Daniel R.
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            NameFull: D'Asaro, Eric A.
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            NameFull: Mahadevan, Amala
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            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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