Global changes in oceanic mesoscale currents over the satellite altimetry record

Josué Martínez-Moreno (), Andrew McC. Hogg, Matthew H. England, Navid C. Constantinou, Andrew E. Kiss and Adele K. Morrison
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Josué Martínez-Moreno: Australian National University
Andrew McC. Hogg: Australian National University
Matthew H. England: University of New South Wales
Navid C. Constantinou: Australian National University
Andrew E. Kiss: Australian National University
Adele K. Morrison: Australian National University

Nature Climate Change, 2021, vol. 11, issue 5, 397-403

Abstract: Abstract Oceanic mesoscale eddies play a profound role in mixing tracers such as heat, carbon and nutrients, thereby regulating regional and global climate. Yet, it remains unclear how the eddy field has varied over the past few decades. Furthermore, climate model predictions generally do not resolve mesoscale eddies, which could limit their accuracy in simulating future climate change. Here we show a global statistically significant increase of ocean eddy activity using two independent observational datasets of surface mesoscale eddy variability (one estimates surface currents, and the other is derived from sea surface temperature). Maps of mesoscale variability trends show heterogeneous patterns, with eddy-rich regions showing a significant increase in mesoscale variability of 2–5% per decade, while the tropical oceans show a decrease in mesoscale variability. This readjustment of the surface mesoscale ocean circulation has important implications for the exchange of heat and carbon between the ocean and atmosphere.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01006-9

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