Eddy properties in the California Current System

Type Article
Date 2011-08
Language English
Author(s) Kurian Jaison1, Colas Francois1, Capet Xavier2, McWilliams James C.1, Chelton Dudley B.3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Calif Los Angeles, Inst Geophys & Planetary Phys, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
2 : IFREMER, UBO, CNRS, Lab Phys Oceans,UMR 6523, F-29280 Plouzane, France
3 : Oregon State Univ, Coll Ocean & Atmospher Sci, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
Source Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans (0148-0227) (Amer Geophysical Union), 2011-08 , Vol. 116 , N. C08027 , P. 18 p.
DOI 10.1029/2010JC006895
WOS© Times Cited 98
Abstract Eddy detection and tracking algorithms are applied to both satellite altimetry and a high-resolution (dx = 5 km) climatological model solution of the U.S. West Coast to study the properties of surface and undercurrent eddies in the California Current System. Eddy properties show remarkable similarity in space and time, and even somewhat in polarity. Summer and fall are the most active seasons for undercurrent eddy generation, while there is less seasonal variation at surface. Most of the eddies have radii in the range of 25-100 km, sea level anomaly amplitudes of 1-4 cm, and vorticity normalized by f amplitudes of 0.025-0.2. Many of the eddies formed near the coast travel considerable distance westward with speeds about 2 km/day, consistent with the beta effect. Anticyclones and cyclones show equatorward and poleward displacements, respectively. Long-lived surface eddies show a cyclonic dominance. The subsurface California Undercurrent generates more long-lived anticyclones than cyclones through instabilities and topographic/coastline effects. In contrast, surface eddies and subsurface cyclones have much more widely distributed birth sites. The majority of the identified eddies have lifetimes less than a season. Eddies extend to 800-1500 m depth and have distinctive vertical structures for cyclones and anticyclones. Eddies show high nonlinearity (rotation speed higher than propagation speed) and hence can be efficient in transporting materials offshore.
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