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Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2024) | Viewed by 8890

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Pg. Marítim Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: physical-biological interactions at submeso- and mesoscales; near-inertial wave dynamics; large-scale currents and ocean biogeochemistry; ocean modeling
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Guest Editor
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per lo Studio Degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in Ambiente Marino, 09170 Oristano, Italy
Interests: mesoscale oceanic eddy; ocean circulation; water masses properties; mesoscale ocean dynamics and its interactions with marine ecosystem; in situ observations; satellite oceanography; operational oceanography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mesoscale eddies are energetic coherent structures that play a crucial role in the ocean. They have typical horizontal scales ranging from 10–100 km and lifetimes from months to sometimes years. They can connect the coastal and the open ocean, generate a downscale energy cascade, and trap and transport heat, salt, pollutants and biogeochemical tracers at long distances. They can also modulate the mixed layer depth, regulate air–sea heat and gas fluxes and influence local winds, clouds and rainfall. As a result, they have a profound impact on the ocean–atmosphere–biosphere system. However, the myriad mechanisms that control or impact all the above-mentioned components of the ocean are not yet fully explored.

Major breakthroughs in remote sensing have paved the way for a global understanding of the oceanic circulation. Automatic eddy detection and tracking algorithms, applied to low-resolution altimetric data, are efficient tools to study the dynamics of mesoscale eddies. To complete these standard techniques, new methods such as deep learning have been developed to analyse visible images (SST, Ocean Colour) that contain higher spatial resolution eddy signatures but can be corrupted by cloud coverage. These recent advances, combined with in situ data (Argo floats, gliders, surface drifter, oceanographic cruises, etc.) and eddy resolving models, provide invaluable information on surface dynamics and the three-dimensional nature of eddies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to advance our understanding of complex mesoscale eddy activity. Therefore, this SI welcomes manuscripts dealing with eddy dynamics, eddy properties variability, transport, or impact on ocean circulations and on marine ecosystems We accept contributions based on standard and new methods that can permit the improvement of mesoscale eddy identification and knowledge. We also strongly encourage works that combine these remote sensing techniques with theory, in situ observations data, and/or modelling output to explore complex physical–biological interactions driven by mesoscale eddies or to unveil the vertical structure of surface imprints of eddies detected by satellites.

Dr. Mariona Claret
Dr. Angelo Perilli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • mesoscale ocean dynamics
  • satellite remote sensing
  • ocean in situ monitoring
  • ocean circulation
  • eddy resolving ocean models
  • eddy detection and tracking algorithms
  • AI applied to oceanic remote sensing analysis
  • marine ecosystems
  • physical–biological interactions

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6293 KiB  
Article
Exploiting Enhanced Altimetry for Constraining Mesoscale Variability in the Nordic Seas and Arctic Ocean
by Antonio Bonaduce, Andrea Storto, Andrea Cipollone, Roshin P. Raj and Chunxue Yang
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(4), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17040684 - 17 Feb 2025
Viewed by 446
Abstract
Recent advances in Arctic observational capabilities have revealed that the Arctic Ocean is highly turbulent in all seasons and have improved temporal and spatial sampling of sea level retrievals from remote sensing, even above 80°N. Such data are expected to be increasingly valuable [...] Read more.
Recent advances in Arctic observational capabilities have revealed that the Arctic Ocean is highly turbulent in all seasons and have improved temporal and spatial sampling of sea level retrievals from remote sensing, even above 80°N. Such data are expected to be increasingly valuable in the future when the extent of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is reduced. Assimilating this new data into ocean models, together with in situ observations, provides an enriched representation of the mesoscale population that induces new eddy-driven contributions to local dynamics and thermodynamics. To quantify the content of the new information, we compare three-year-long assimilative experiments at ¼° resolution incorporating in situ-only data, in situ and standard altimetry, and in situ and high-latitude-enhanced altimetry, respectively. The enhanced altimetry data lead to an increase in three-dimensional eddy kinetic energy, generated by coherent vortexes, of up to 20% in several areas. Robust ocean warming is generated in the Arctic sector down to 800 m. Via heat budget analysis, this warming can be ascribed to a local enhancement of vertical mixing, as well as an increase in meridional heat transport. The assimilation of enhanced altimetry amplifies the transport, compared to standard altimetry, especially north of 70°N. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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19 pages, 6806 KiB  
Article
Mesoscale Eddy Properties in Four Major Western Boundary Current Regions
by Wei Cui, Jungang Yang and Chaojie Zhou
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4470; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234470 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1052
Abstract
Oceanic mesoscale eddies are a kind of typical geostrophic dynamic process which can cause vertical movement in water bodies, thereby changing the temperature, salinity, density, and chlorophyll concentration of the surface water in the eddy. Based on multisource remote sensing data and Argo [...] Read more.
Oceanic mesoscale eddies are a kind of typical geostrophic dynamic process which can cause vertical movement in water bodies, thereby changing the temperature, salinity, density, and chlorophyll concentration of the surface water in the eddy. Based on multisource remote sensing data and Argo profiles, this study analyzes and compares the mesoscale eddy properties in four major western boundary current regions (WBCs), i.e., the Kuroshio Extension (KE), the Gulf Stream (GS), the Agulhas Current (AC), and the Brazil Current (BC). The 30-year sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) data are used to identify mesoscale eddies in the four WBCs. Among the four WBCs, the GS eddies have the largest amplitude and the BC eddies have the smallest amplitude. Combining the altimeter-detected eddy results with the simultaneous observations of sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, sea surface density, and chlorophyll concentration, the local impacts of eddy activities in each WBCs are analyzed. The eddy surface temperature and salinity signals are positively correlated with the eddy SSHA signals, while the eddy surface density and chlorophyll concentrations are negatively correlated with eddy SSHA signals. The correlation analysis of eddy surface signals in the WBCs reveals that eddies have regional differences in the surface signal changes of eddy activities. Based on the subsurface temperature and salinity information provided by Argo profiles, the analysis of the vertical thermohaline characteristics of mesoscale eddies in the four WBCs is carried out. Eddies in the four WBCs have deep influence on the vertical thermohaline characteristics of water masses, which is not only related to the strong eddy activities but also to the thick thermocline and halocline of water masses in the WBCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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24 pages, 33437 KiB  
Article
Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements
by Artemis Ioannou, Lionel Guez, Rémi Laxenaire and Sabrina Speich
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(22), 4336; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16224336 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1160
Abstract
The present study introduces a comprehensive, open-access atlas of mesoscale eddies in the global ocean, as identified and tracked by the TOEddies algorithm implemented on a global scale. Unlike existing atlases, TOEddies detects eddies directly from absolute dynamic topography (ADT) without spatial filtering, [...] Read more.
The present study introduces a comprehensive, open-access atlas of mesoscale eddies in the global ocean, as identified and tracked by the TOEddies algorithm implemented on a global scale. Unlike existing atlases, TOEddies detects eddies directly from absolute dynamic topography (ADT) without spatial filtering, preserving the natural spatial variability and enabling precise, high-resolution tracking of eddy dynamics. This dataset provides daily information on eddy characteristics, such as size, intensity, and polarity, over a 30-year period (1993–2023), capturing complex eddy interactions, including splitting and merging events that often produce networks of interconnected eddies. This unique approach challenges the traditional single-trajectory perspective, offering a nuanced view of eddy life cycles as dynamically linked trajectories. In addition to traditional metrics, TOEddies identifies both the eddy core (characterized by maximum azimuthal velocity) and the outer boundary, offering a detailed representation of eddy structure and enabling precise comparisons with in situ data. To demonstrate its value, we present a statistical overview of eddy characteristics and spatial distributions, including generation, disappearance, and merging/splitting events, alongside a comparative analysis with existing global eddy datasets. Among the multi-year observations, TOEddies captures coherent, long-lived eddies with lifetimes exceeding 1.5 years, while highlighting significant differences in the dynamic properties and spatial patterns across datasets. Furthermore, this study integrates TOEddies with 23 years of colocalized Argo profile data (2000–2023), allowing for a novel examination of eddy-induced subsurface variability and the role of mesoscale eddies in the transport of global ocean heat and biogeochemical properties. This atlas aims to be a valuable resource for the oceanographic community, providing an open dataset that can support diverse applications in ocean dynamics, climate research, and marine resource management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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21 pages, 5869 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Typhoons on the Evolution of Surface Anticyclonic Eddies into Subsurface Anticyclonic Eddies in the Northwestern Subtropical Pacific Ocean
by Shangzhan Cai, Jindian Xu, Weibo Wang, Chunsheng Jing, Kai Li, Junpeng Zhang and Fangfang Kuang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(22), 4282; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16224282 - 17 Nov 2024
Viewed by 811
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the impacts of typhoons on the transformation of anticyclonic eddies (AEs) into subsurface anticyclonic eddies (SAEs) in the northwestern subtropical Pacific Ocean (NWSP) based on an ocean reanalysis product and multiple satellite observations. Results suggest that while the [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the impacts of typhoons on the transformation of anticyclonic eddies (AEs) into subsurface anticyclonic eddies (SAEs) in the northwestern subtropical Pacific Ocean (NWSP) based on an ocean reanalysis product and multiple satellite observations. Results suggest that while the heavy precipitation and strong positive wind stress curl (WSC) induced by the passage of typhoons may be two main driving factors that transformed shallow mixed layer depth (MLD) AEs (i.e., those shallower than 50 m at the eddy core) into SAEs, the latter played a greater role in such transformation. In addition, shallow MLD AEs with a less depressed isopycnal structure near the eddy center before the passage of typhoons were more likely to be transformed into SAEs under the impacts of typhoons. The likely timing of such transformation may be within 9 days after the passage of typhoons. For deep MLD AEs (i.e., those deeper than 80 m at the eddy core), the impacts of typhoons may be much less prominent below the mixed layer. Based on a diagnostic analysis of the vertical potential vorticity (PV) flux at the surface, we examined the mechanism and dynamic processes involved in the transformation of deep MLD AEs into SAEs under the impacts of typhoons. Results show that while typhoons played a positive role in maintaining low PV within deep MLD AEs, which was favorable for further transformation into SAEs, the diabatic process associated with the net air–sea heat flux was the crucial favorable condition for the transformation of deep MLD AEs into SAEs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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19 pages, 9502 KiB  
Article
Statistical Analysis of Multi-Year South China Sea Eddies and Exploration of Eddy Classification
by Yang Jin, Meibing Jin, Dongxiao Wang and Changming Dong
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1818; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101818 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1469
Abstract
Mesoscale eddies are structures of seawater motion with horizontal scales of tens to hundreds of kilometers, impact depths of tens to hundreds of meters, and time scales of days to months. This study presents a statistical analysis of mesoscale eddies in the South [...] Read more.
Mesoscale eddies are structures of seawater motion with horizontal scales of tens to hundreds of kilometers, impact depths of tens to hundreds of meters, and time scales of days to months. This study presents a statistical analysis of mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea (SCS) from 1993 to 2021 based on eddies extracted from satellite remote sensing data using the vector geometry eddy detection method. On average, about 230 eddies with a wide spatial and temporal distribution are observed each year, and the numbers of CEs (52.2%) and AEs (47.8%) are almost similar, with a significant correlation in spatial distribution. In this article, eddies with a lifetime of at least 28 days (17% of the number of total eddies) are referred to as strong eddies (SEs). The SEs in the SCS that persist for several years in similar months and locations, such as the well-known dipole eddies consisting of CEs and AEs offshore eastern Vietnam, are defined as persistent strong eddies (PSEs). SEs and PSEs affect the thermohaline structure, current field, and material and energy transport in the upper ocean. This paper is important as it names the SEs and PSEs, and the naming of eddies can facilitate research on specific major eddies and improve public understanding of mesoscale eddies as important oceanic phenomena. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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20 pages, 18856 KiB  
Article
A Gaussian Function Model of Mesoscale Eddy Temperature Anomalies and Research of Spatial Distribution Characteristics
by Yingying Duan, Hao Zhang, Xiao Chen and Manli Zhou
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101716 - 12 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous oceanic phenomena and play an important role in ocean circulation, ocean dynamics, and the transport of material energy. Temperature anomalies are a crucial parameter that reflects the state of mesoscale eddies. This study proposes a Gaussian function model to [...] Read more.
Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous oceanic phenomena and play an important role in ocean circulation, ocean dynamics, and the transport of material energy. Temperature anomalies are a crucial parameter that reflects the state of mesoscale eddies. This study proposes a Gaussian function model to fit the vertical temperature anomaly (TA) profile to facilitate the analysis of variations, and the principle of the model is based on the fact that each TA profile tends to fluctuate around one or more peaks. The model is extracted and validated using Argo profiles within cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies in the Northwest Pacific Ocean spanning over the period from 2002 to 2021. The validation demonstrates that the model can accurately recover the vertical TA profiles with a limited number of parameters. This makes it suitable for analysing the spatial distribution patterns that require a large sample count. The analysis indicates that eddies with different TA profiles have a spatial aggregation effect in geographic distribution. Eddies with lower extreme temperature anomalies, at depths of 200–300 m, are mainly distributed along two bands on the north side of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) and the North Equatorial Current. Eddies with extreme TAs at the deepest depth (500–600 m) are distributed along the KE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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18 pages, 8078 KiB  
Article
Submesoscale Short-Lived Eddies in the Southwestern Taiwan Strait Observed by High-Frequency Surface-Wave Radars
by Hong Zhao, Xianchang Yue, Li Wang, Xiongbin Wu and Zhangyou Chen
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(3), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16030589 - 4 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1415
Abstract
Surface currents obtained from the high-frequency surface-wave radars (HFSWRs) installed along the coast of Fujian Province are utilized to characterize submesoscale eddies in the southwestern Taiwan Strait from 29 January to 26 March 2013. The algorithm based on vector geometry (VG) has been [...] Read more.
Surface currents obtained from the high-frequency surface-wave radars (HFSWRs) installed along the coast of Fujian Province are utilized to characterize submesoscale eddies in the southwestern Taiwan Strait from 29 January to 26 March 2013. The algorithm based on vector geometry (VG) has been applied to datasets and a total of 414 (161 anticyclonic and 253 cyclonic eddies) were obtained. Eddies with both rotations had a relatively short lifespan (≤3.7 h), and their radii were in the range of 5–22.5 km. Eddies with a lifespan of over 30 minutes were more likely to occur north of the Taiwan Strait shoals and move eastward or northeastward. The deviation of moving directions of eddies with a moving distance of more than 20 km was within 18°. Moreover, eddies could hardly hold their original forms with cyclones extending in the east-west and compressing in the north-south direction, and anticyclones were the opposite. The vorticity and strain rate were proportional to the square of the energy intensity (EI). This study shows that the array HFSWRs have a strong capability to observe short-lived submesoscale eddies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies II)
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