Mechanisms for vertical nutrient transport within a North Atlantic mesoscale eddy
Mechanisms for vertical nutrient transport within a North Atlantic mesoscale eddy
Prompted by observational evidence for an enhanced source of surface nutrients within an anticyclonic eddy in the NE Atlantic, we investigate vertical transport processes that may produce such a phenomenon. For the eddy investigated, the dominant mechanism is found to be ageostrophic circulation resulting from a perturbation of the circular flow of the eddy. This can produce upwelling velocities of order 10 md?1. Ekman pumping due to wind stress on the eddy also produces upwelling within, but on a smaller scale of ~0.5 md?1. There is no evidence that self-propagation of the eddy leads to an enhanced nutrient flux by displacement upwards of nutrient-laden deeper isopycnals over the core of the eddy. Deeper winter mixing within the eddy relative to the surroundings, however, may contribute to the elevated nutrient levels.
OCEAN EDDIES, VERTICAL TRANSPORT, VERTICAL MIGRATIONS, ISOPYCNAL MIXING, NUTRIENTS
757-773
Martin, A.P.
9d0d480d-9b3c-44c2-aafe-bb980ed98a6d
Richards, K.J.
fbeeea4f-7891-417a-a30d-182dd90916f9
2001
Martin, A.P.
9d0d480d-9b3c-44c2-aafe-bb980ed98a6d
Richards, K.J.
fbeeea4f-7891-417a-a30d-182dd90916f9
Martin, A.P. and Richards, K.J.
(2001)
Mechanisms for vertical nutrient transport within a North Atlantic mesoscale eddy.
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48 (4-5), .
(doi:10.1016/S0967-0645(00)00096-5).
Abstract
Prompted by observational evidence for an enhanced source of surface nutrients within an anticyclonic eddy in the NE Atlantic, we investigate vertical transport processes that may produce such a phenomenon. For the eddy investigated, the dominant mechanism is found to be ageostrophic circulation resulting from a perturbation of the circular flow of the eddy. This can produce upwelling velocities of order 10 md?1. Ekman pumping due to wind stress on the eddy also produces upwelling within, but on a smaller scale of ~0.5 md?1. There is no evidence that self-propagation of the eddy leads to an enhanced nutrient flux by displacement upwards of nutrient-laden deeper isopycnals over the core of the eddy. Deeper winter mixing within the eddy relative to the surroundings, however, may contribute to the elevated nutrient levels.
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Published date: 2001
Keywords:
OCEAN EDDIES, VERTICAL TRANSPORT, VERTICAL MIGRATIONS, ISOPYCNAL MIXING, NUTRIENTS
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Local EPrints ID: 7918
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/7918
ISSN: 0967-0645
PURE UUID: 24f2afce-7210-4d14-91b3-270a9cf1b2fb
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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:49
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Author:
A.P. Martin
Author:
K.J. Richards
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