ARCTERX: Profiling Float Measurements of Eddy-Kuroshio Interactions and Turbulence
Abstract
Mesoscale eddies contain a large part of oceanic horizontal kinetic and available potential energy but the processes transferring en ergy from the mesoscale to smaller scales, cascading eventually to dissipation scales, are elusive. Eddy-mean flow interactions, suc h as between mesoscale eddies and the Kuroshio, are hotspots for the loss of geostrophic balance, the energization of submesoscale t urbulence, and the cascade of energy to dissipative scales, but are rarely observed. Capturing eddy-Kuroshio interactions synoptical ly with shipboard operations or moorings is challenging, especially collecting the full suite of u, v, T, S, chi. To this end, we pr opose a novel approach to observe eddy-Kuroshio interactions using an array of EM-APEX floats flexibly deployed and recovered by a s mall commercial boat for targeting specific eddies before they collide with the Kuroshio. We propose repeat deployments and trapping of chi-augmented profiling EM-APEX floats in westward-propagating eddies to characterize (i) the evolution of eddy properties, (ii) the breakdown of eddy geostrophic balance and energization of small-scale motions, and (iii) the distribution of turbulent dissipat ion, as eddies interact with the Kuroshio and disintegrate. These semi-Lagrangian measurements in the eddy frame of reference will c omplement glider and shipboard measurements within ARCTERX and are aligned with current research interests of our collaborators at N TU in Taiwan.Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112753
Entities
People
- Sebastian Essink
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington