- Formation of Submesoscale Eddies
- Impact of Submesoscale Eddies on Ocean Dynamics
- Detection and Observation of Submesoscale Eddies
The ocean is a complex and dynamic system, driven by a complex interplay of physical, chemical, and biological processes.
At the heart of this system are ocean currents, which play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate and supporting marine life.
While large-scale ocean currents like the Gulf Stream and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current have long been recognized for their importance, a new class of oceanic features known as submesoscale eddies is emerging as a crucial player in the ocean’s energy balance.
In this article, we will delve into the world of submesoscale eddies, exploring their formation, detection, and impact on ocean dynamics, climate patterns, and marine ecosystems.
Submesoscale Eddies: Definition and Characteristics
Submesoscale eddies are small-scale oceanic features that range in size from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers and last for days to weeks.
They are characterized by strong vorticity, or the tendency of a fluid to rotate, and are driven by a complex interplay of processes such as surface waves, turbulence, and instabilities in the ocean’s density field.
While they were once thought to be too small and short-lived to have any significant impact on the ocean’s overall circulation, recent studies have shown that submesoscale eddies play a crucial role in transporting heat, nutrients, and carbon throughout the ocean.
Formation of Submesoscale Eddies
Submesoscale eddies can form through a variety of mechanisms, including instabilities in the ocean’s density field, the interaction of surface waves with the ocean’s surface layer, and the shear between ocean currents of different velocities.
One common way that submesoscale eddies form is through the process of frontal instability, where two water masses of different densities meet and create a sharp gradient, or front, between them.
These fronts can become unstable and break down into small-scale eddies, which then merge and grow into larger eddies.
Detection and Observation of Submesoscale Eddies
Detecting and observing submesoscale eddies can be challenging, as they are small and short-lived compared to larger oceanic features.
However, advances in satellite and oceanographic technology have enabled scientists to study submesoscale eddies in more detail than ever before.
One technique for detecting submesoscale eddies is through the use of satellite altimetry, which measures variations in sea surface height caused by the presence of eddies.
Another approach is to use high-resolution ocean models that simulate the behavior of submesoscale eddies based on observed oceanic conditions.
Impact of Submesoscale Eddies on Ocean Dynamics
Despite their small size, submesoscale eddies have a significant impact on the ocean’s energy balance and circulation.
They play a crucial role in transporting heat, nutrients, and carbon throughout the ocean, which has implications for climate patterns and marine ecosystems.
Submesoscale eddies can also interact with larger-scale ocean currents and modify their paths and intensities, creating feedbacks that affect the overall circulation of the ocean.
Climate Implications of Submesoscale Eddies
The transport of heat, nutrients, and carbon by submesoscale eddies has important implications for the Earth’s climate.
In regions of the ocean where submesoscale eddies are prevalent, such as the Southern Ocean and the western boundary currents, they can significantly influence the exchange of heat and carbon between the ocean and the atmosphere.
Submesoscale eddies can enhance the vertical mixing of water masses, bringing deep, nutrient-rich waters to the surface where they can fuel the growth of phytoplankton.
This, in turn, can lead to increased carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean, helping to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic carbon emissions.
Impact of Submesoscale Eddies on Marine Ecosystems
Submesoscale eddies also have important implications for marine ecosystems.
They can act as “hotspots” of biological productivity, bringing nutrients to the surface and supporting the growth of phytoplankton and other marine organisms.
These hotspots can attract a variety of marine life, including whales, dolphins, and seabirds, creating important feeding grounds and breeding areas.
In some regions, such as the California Current, submesoscale eddies can also influence the distribution and abundance of commercially important fish populations, making them an important consideration for fisheries management.
Challenges in Studying Submesoscale Eddies
While our understanding of submesoscale eddies has grown in recent years, there are still many challenges associated with studying these small-scale features.
One of the biggest challenges is their short-lived nature, which makes it difficult to capture them during oceanographic surveys or satellite observations.
Additionally, the complex physical processes that drive submesoscale eddies make them difficult to model accurately, and more research is needed to improve our understanding of these processes.
Future Directions in Submesoscale Eddy Research
Despite these challenges, the study of submesoscale eddies is a rapidly growing field, and new research is shedding light on these small-scale features and their impact on the ocean.
One exciting avenue of research is the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to study submesoscale eddies in situ.
These AUVs can be deployed for extended periods of time, providing detailed observations of submesoscale eddies and their physical and biological properties.
Another area of research is the use of high-resolution ocean models to simulate the behavior of submesoscale eddies and investigate their impact on the ocean’s overall circulation and climate patterns.
The Role of Technology in Studying Submesoscale Eddies
Advancements in technology have greatly aided in our ability to study submesoscale eddies. Satellite observations and oceanographic surveys have traditionally been the primary means of detecting and studying these features.
However, with the development of more advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and high-resolution ocean models, researchers can now gain a more detailed understanding of submesoscale eddies.
AUVs are capable of collecting data at depths and locations that are difficult for traditional methods to reach.
They can also operate for extended periods of time, allowing for more detailed observations of the physical and biological properties of submesoscale eddies.
High-resolution ocean models, on the other hand, can simulate the complex processes that drive these eddies, providing insights into their formation, behavior, and impact on the ocean’s overall circulation and climate patterns.
The Relationship between Submesoscale Eddies and Climate Change
Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on the ocean, including changes in ocean circulation, temperature, and sea level.
Recent research has shown that submesoscale eddies may play a crucial role in how the ocean responds to these changes.
One study published in Nature Geoscience found that submesoscale eddies could help mitigate the impacts of climate change on the ocean by transporting carbon from the surface to deeper waters.
This process, known as carbon sequestration, can help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and slow down the rate of global warming.
However, other studies have suggested that climate change could also lead to an increase in the intensity and frequency of submesoscale eddies.
This could have significant implications for marine ecosystems, as more intense eddies could disrupt the distribution and abundance of marine species, including commercially important fish populations.
The Importance of International Collaboration in Submesoscale Eddy Research
Given the global nature of the ocean, it is essential that research on submesoscale eddies is conducted through international collaboration.
This can help to ensure that data is collected across a wide range of oceanic regions and that findings are shared and integrated into a broader understanding of the ocean.
Several international initiatives are currently underway to facilitate collaboration in submesoscale eddy research.
One example is the Submesoscale Processes and Lagrangian Analysis on the Shelf (SPLASH) project, which involves researchers from around the world working together to study submesoscale eddies in the coastal ocean.
The project aims to develop new methods for observing and modeling submesoscale eddies and to improve our understanding of their role in the ocean.
The Economic Impact of Submesoscale Eddies
Submesoscale eddies can have a significant impact on the economy, particularly in coastal regions where they can affect oceanic resources and commercial activities.
For example, submesoscale eddies can influence the distribution and abundance of plankton, which forms the basis of the marine food web.
Changes in the availability of plankton can have downstream effects on commercially important fish populations, which can in turn impact fishing and aquaculture industries.
Submesoscale eddies can also affect oceanic transport and shipping routes, leading to changes in the costs and efficiency of maritime trade.
Additionally, these eddies can impact the tourism industry, as changes in oceanic conditions can affect recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, and boating.
The Legal Implications of Submesoscale Eddies
Maritime law governs many aspects of oceanic activities, including shipping, fishing, and offshore energy production.
Submesoscale eddies can complicate legal issues related to these activities, as they can influence oceanic boundaries, marine resources, and the safety of maritime operations.
For example, submesoscale eddies can cause changes in the location of the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of coastal states, which can impact their jurisdiction over oceanic resources such as fish stocks and oil and gas reserves.
These eddies can also influence the safety of maritime operations, as they can lead to changes in oceanic conditions such as waves, currents, and turbulence.
Natural Disasters and Submesoscale Eddies
Submesoscale eddies can interact with and be influenced by other oceanic phenomena, including natural disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis.
For example, hurricanes can cause changes in oceanic temperature and salinity, which can lead to the formation of submesoscale eddies.
Additionally, the strong winds and currents associated with hurricanes can generate mesoscale eddies, which can interact with submesoscale eddies to produce complex oceanic features.
Tsunamis can also have an impact on submesoscale eddies, as the sudden displacement of water caused by these events can generate internal waves that propagate through the ocean.
These waves can interact with submesoscale eddies, leading to changes in their behavior and properties.
Other Types of Oceanic Eddies
While submesoscale eddies are a relatively new area of research, other types of oceanic eddies have been studied for many years.
These include mesoscale eddies, which are larger than submesoscale eddies and can have diameters of up to 100 kilometers.
Mesoscale eddies play an important role in oceanic circulation and can have a significant impact on marine ecosystems and the global climate.
Another type of oceanic eddy is the Rossby wave, which is a type of planetary wave that occurs in the ocean and atmosphere.
Rossby waves can have very large wavelengths and can propagate across the entire ocean basin.
These waves play a key role in the ocean’s response to climate variability and are an important aspect of oceanic circulation.
Wrapping Up: Submesoscale Eddies
Submesoscale eddies are fascinating oceanic phenomena that have only recently become the focus of scientific research.
These small-scale features play a critical role in the ocean’s circulation and have significant impacts on marine ecosystems, climate patterns, and human activities.
The study of submesoscale eddies is essential to understanding the ocean’s response to ongoing changes in our global climate and to developing strategies for managing and conserving our oceanic resources.
As we continue to advance our understanding of submesoscale eddies and other oceanic phenomena, we can work towards a more comprehensive understanding of the ocean and its role in supporting life on Earth.
