Dynamics of Eddies and Dipoles in the South Atlantic

智力价值这个项目将产生从厄古拉斯南大西洋的潜在涡度场。研究人员将使用位涡场模拟中尺度涡旋和反向旋转涡旋场的动力学行为，以探索Agulhas Retroflection（印度洋水进入南大西洋的运输和混合）的泄漏以及上层和深海之间的耦合。还将建立上下层偶极子耦合的理论模型，包括不同层深和涡流大小/强度的不对称性。从这些解的扰动形式和数值解中，将量化与中尺度偶极子相关的波频散。这项研究的意义在于，对南大西洋气旋和反气旋涡旋的横向和垂直涡旋-涡旋相互作用造成的上层海洋和深海之间的耦合强度有了新的认识。这些涡可以显着地有助于通风的温跃层。更广泛的影响这项工作将调查中尺度的气旋和反气旋涡的偶极结构，结合使用现场和卫星数据，连同数值和分析模型。研究人员将为Rossby波与中尺度涡旋的海洋气候研究提供定量结果，并更好地了解南大西洋中尺度涡旋过程如何有助于温跃层通风过程。此外，这项工作将为来自海洋学代表性不足的族裔群体的一名科学家提供博士后培训，他将通过模拟海洋漩涡获得地球物理流体动力学方面的新技能和额外培训。一些培训将包括关于涡流的理论工作、示踪剂输运模拟以及现场反演回声探测器数据和卫星高度计数据的数值数据同化。

Intellectual MeritThis project will generate potential vorticity fields from the Agulhas South-Atlantic. The investigators will use the potential vorticity fields to model the dynamical behavior of mesoscale eddies and counter-rotating eddy fields to explore the leakage from the Agulhas Retroflection (transport and mixing of Indian Ocean water into the South Atlantic) and the coupling between the upper and deep ocean. Theoretical models of coupled upper-lower layer dipoles, including asymmetries from different layer depths and vortex sizes/ strengths will also be developed. From disturbed forms of these solutions and from numerical solutions, wave dispersion associated with mesoscale dipoles will be quantified. The significance of study is developing new understanding of the strength of the coupling between the upper and deep ocean due to lateral and vertical eddy-eddy interactions of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies in the South Atlantic. These eddies can contribute significantly to the ventilation of the thermocline.Broader ImpactsThis work will investigate mesoscale dipolar structures of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies, using a combination of in situ and satellite data, together with numerical and analytical models. The investigators will contribute quantitative results to ocean-climate studies on Rossby waves versus mesoscale eddies and gain a better understanding of how mesoscale eddy processes in the South Atlantic Ocean aid in the thermocline ventilation process. In addition, this work will provide post doctoral training to a scientist from an under-represented ethnic group in oceanography who will gain new skills and additional training in geophysical fluid dynamics by modeling ocean vortices. Some of the training will include theoretical work on vortices, tracer transport simulations, and numerical data assimilation of in situ inverted echo sounder data and satellite altimeter data.