Vertical structure of mesoscale eddy energy in the Kuroshio Extension region

February 11, 2018·
Hengkai YAO
Hengkai YAO
Chao Ma
Chao Ma
· 0 min read
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Abstract
The Kuroshio Extension (KE) region is the key area in mid-latitude ocean-atmosphere interaction where mesoscale eddies achieve their largest activity. The eddy-mean flow interaction here plays a critical role in Kuroshio meander dynamics. In the past, most researchers focused on the individual cases of mesoscale eddies, or eddies in sea surface using the satellite observations. In recent years, by applying the composite analysis of multiple data (such as satellite altimetry, Argo float data, mooring data), some universal eddy structures were proposed. However, the vertical structure of eddy energy is seldom emphasized. Adopting an automated eddy detection scheme to the OFES (OGCM for the Earth Simulator) high-resolution eddy resolving ocean simulation product during the period of 1990-1997, a three-dimensional eddy data set in KE region is developed. It includes information for 82080 individual eddies’ location, polarity, intensity, size, boundary, and trajectory at 54 vertical levels. Based on this data set, we analyze the vertical structure of eddy energy by calculating the energy budget during the generation, evolution and termination of the eddies’ life. We raise universal eddy energy vertical structures for cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies during the mean flow-eddy interaction processes. These findings are significant for a better understanding of the mechanism for the vertical structure of mesoscale eddies and the mean flow-eddy interaction processes.
Type
Publication
Ocean Science Meeting 2018
publications
Mesoscale Eddies
Hengkai YAO
Authors
Hengkai YAO (he/him)
Ocean Scientist
Dr. Hengkai Yao (姚恒恺) is a lecturer of School of Mathmetica and Physics at the Qingdao University of Science and Technology. He got Ph.D of Physical Oceanograpy from Ocean University of China. His research interests include mesoscale eddies, ocean modeling and AI oceanography. He is member of the AI Oceanography group, which develops big data in ocean, ocean simulation, and ocean prediction. He is also a chief scientist in Qingdao Oakfull Water Technology Co., Ltd.
Chao Ma
Authors
Chao Ma
Associate Professor of Physical Oceanography

Associate Professor College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Ocean University of China 238 Songling Rd, Qingdao 266100, China Tel: +86-532-66782802 Email:machao@ouc.edu.cn

Education 09/2000-06/2003, B.S. in Marine Science, Ocean University of China 09/2003-06/2006, M.S. in Physical Oceanography, Ocean University of China 09/2006-06/2009, Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography, Ocean University of China 09/2007-09/2008, Joint Ph.D. candidate, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

EMPLOYMENT 07/2009-12/2013, Lecture, Ocean University of China 01/2014-present, Associate Professor, Ocean University of China

Major PROJECTS 01/2017-12/2020, NSFC project “On the multi spatial and temporal scale variations of the Kuroshio and its exchange process with the coastal sea” (41676004), 700k, PI 01/2014-12/2017, NSFC project “The Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Processes in the Kuroshio Extension Region and Their Effects on Circulations in the East Asian Marginal Seas” (41376001), 960k, PI 01/2011-12/2013, NSFC project “The Effect of Abnormal Signals to the East of Japan on Seasonal Variations of the Tsushima Strait Warm Current and Sea Level in the Japan/East Sea” (41006003), 200k, PI 07/2012-12/2014, Promotive Research Fund for Excellent Young and Middle-aged Scientists of Shandong Province “Seasonal variability of the Tsushima Warm Current and its effect on the Yellow Sea Warm Current” (BS2012HZ019), 50k, PI 07/2010-07/2012, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities “Study on the mechanism for seasonal variations of the Yellow Sea Warm Current and the sea level in Chinese coastal waters” (201013021），80k，PI 01/2015-08/2019, National Basic Research Program of China (973) project “Response of the Meridional Overturning Circulation in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current to global warming and its effect on climate change” (2015CB954300), 4.9m, Participant 01/2014-08/2018, National Basic Research Program of China (973) project “Generation and dissipation of oceanic mesoscale eddies and horizontal eddy mixing mechanisms around islands” (2014CB745001), 3.6m, Participant

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS Ma, C., D. Wu, X. Lin, J. Yang, and X. Ju, 2012: On the Mechanism of Seasonal Variation of the Tsushima Warm Current. Cont. Shelf Res., 48, 1-7, doi:10.1016/j.csr.2012.08.013 Ma, C., D. Wu, X. Lin, J. Yang, and X. Ju, 2010: An open-ocean forcing in the East China and Yellow Seas. J. Geophys. Res., 115, C12056, doi:10.1029/2010JC006179 Ma, C., J. Yang, D. Wu, and X. Lin, 2010: The Kuroshio Extension: a leading mechanism for the seasonal sea-level variability along the west coast of Japan. Ocean Dynam., 60(3), 667-672 Ma, C., D. Wu, and X. Lin, 2009: Variability of surface velocity in the Kuroshio Current and adjacent waters derived from Argos drifter buoys and satellite altimeter data, Chin. J. Oceanol. Limnol., 27(2), 208-217 Xu, L., X. Lin, and C. Ma, 2009: Mechanism of the Yellow Sea Warm Current and its seasonal variation, J. Hydrodynamics, 21(2), 159-165

Awards Wu, D., X. Lin, X. Wan, X. Chen, C. Ma, X. Bao, and J. Song, 2013: The Dynamics Framework and Variability of Ocean Environment in the East China Coastal Seas, First prize of Natural Science Award of the Ministry of Education, 2012-21 Wu, D., X. Chen, X. Bao, X. Lin, J. Song, C. Ma, X. Han, H. Yu, L. Qiao, P. Zheng, and G. Wang, 2015: Study on the key processes of ocean dynamic environment in the East China Sea and their fine numerical simulations and applications, First prize of Science and Technology Award of China Association of Oceanic Engineering, 2014-01-01

Courses Undergraduate: Ocean Circulation; FORTRAN Programming

Research Interests Numerical and theoretical studies of ocean circulation; Interactions between open ocean and marginal seas.

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