Wind Variability at Synoptic-to-Planetary Frequency Enhances Front Asymmetry of Mesoscale Eddy.
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| Title: | Wind Variability at Synoptic-to-Planetary Frequency Enhances Front Asymmetry of Mesoscale Eddy. |
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| Authors: | Wu, Boyan1,2 (AUTHOR), Jing, Zhiyou1 (AUTHOR) jingzhiyou@scsio.ac.cn |
| Source: | Journal of Physical Oceanography. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 6, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Mesoscale eddies, Ocean dynamics |
| Abstract: | Oceanic fronts at mesoscale eddy peripheries are critical for generating submesoscale processes that regulate upper-ocean transport and mixing. Previous studies have shown that large-scale wind forcing can induce asymmetry in frontal sharpness around mesoscale eddies, with sharpened (weakened) fronts on the down-front (up-front) wind side. However, the response of these fronts and associated submesoscale processes to wind forcings at different oscillating frequencies remains poorly understood. Based on high-resolution idealized simulations of anticyclonic mesoscale eddy under various wind forcings, this study reveals that the modulation of frontal sharpness and asymmetry around anticyclonic mesoscale eddy is most significant when the wind oscillation period matches the eddy's rotational period. Analysis of Lagrangian particle tracking reveals that particles accumulate a net positive Ekman buoyancy flux (EBF) by experiencing an enhanced positive flux on the down-front wind side and a suppressed negative flux on the up-front wind side, which tends to strengthen the frontal asymmetry. Additionally, the submesoscale fronts sharpen significantly on the down-front wind side when wind stress relaxes. This frontal sharpening rate is driven by horizontal convergent flows, confirming the key role of submesoscale frontogenesis. Diagnosis of the horizontal divergence equation further reveals that local vorticity acceleration and nonlinear horizontal advection terms are primarily responsible in driving convergent flows and submesoscale frontogenesis. Given that 90% of mesoscale eddies exhibit rotational periods of 10 to 70 days, aligning with the dominant timescales of atmospheric variability, the mechanisms described above likely have significant influences on submesoscale frontal sharpness and asymmetry around mesoscale eddies across the global ocean. [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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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194578092 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Wind Variability at Synoptic-to-Planetary Frequency Enhances Front Asymmetry of Mesoscale Eddy. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Boyan%22">Wu, Boyan</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jing%2C+Zhiyou%22">Jing, Zhiyou</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jingzhiyou@scsio.ac.cn</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Physical+Oceanography%22">Journal of Physical Oceanography</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 6, p1-17. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mesoscale+eddies%22">Mesoscale eddies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+dynamics%22">Ocean dynamics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Oceanic fronts at mesoscale eddy peripheries are critical for generating submesoscale processes that regulate upper-ocean transport and mixing. Previous studies have shown that large-scale wind forcing can induce asymmetry in frontal sharpness around mesoscale eddies, with sharpened (weakened) fronts on the down-front (up-front) wind side. However, the response of these fronts and associated submesoscale processes to wind forcings at different oscillating frequencies remains poorly understood. Based on high-resolution idealized simulations of anticyclonic mesoscale eddy under various wind forcings, this study reveals that the modulation of frontal sharpness and asymmetry around anticyclonic mesoscale eddy is most significant when the wind oscillation period matches the eddy's rotational period. Analysis of Lagrangian particle tracking reveals that particles accumulate a net positive Ekman buoyancy flux (EBF) by experiencing an enhanced positive flux on the down-front wind side and a suppressed negative flux on the up-front wind side, which tends to strengthen the frontal asymmetry. Additionally, the submesoscale fronts sharpen significantly on the down-front wind side when wind stress relaxes. This frontal sharpening rate is driven by horizontal convergent flows, confirming the key role of submesoscale frontogenesis. Diagnosis of the horizontal divergence equation further reveals that local vorticity acceleration and nonlinear horizontal advection terms are primarily responsible in driving convergent flows and submesoscale frontogenesis. Given that 90% of mesoscale eddies exhibit rotational periods of 10 to 70 days, aligning with the dominant timescales of atmospheric variability, the mechanisms described above likely have significant influences on submesoscale frontal sharpness and asymmetry around mesoscale eddies across the global ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab 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: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1175/JPO-D-25-0203.1 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Mesoscale eddies Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean dynamics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Wind Variability at Synoptic-to-Planetary Frequency Enhances Front Asymmetry of Mesoscale Eddy. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wu, Boyan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jing, Zhiyou IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00223670 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 56 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Physical Oceanography Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
