Detecting Submesoscale Coherent Vortices with Argo floatsSubmesoscale coherent vortices (SCVs) are subsurface-intensified eddies that are ubiquitous in the ocean, yet their impact on the large-scale transport of heat, salt, and chemical tracers is poorly understood. We developed a general-algorithm to detect these eddies based on their stratification and water mass signatures using the global array of Argo float profiles. Analysis of our results reveals areas of high-frequency, long-lived SCV generation, which include Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS), marginal sea overflow regions, and mode water formations sites along open-ocean fronts. We provided a first-order estimate of the number of SCVs expected at any given location in the ocean, further suggesting that SCVs play a role in modulating the water properties of subtropical gyres and mid-latitude subduction regions, which in turn may alter interior water mass characteristics.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102452 |
N-Cycle within Oxygen Minimum ZonesNitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas that can contribute to climate change. Previous studies have revealed the ocean to be a significant source of atmospheric N2O, most notably from waters overlying oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). Within these oxygen-limited regions of the ocean, the remineralization of organic matter proceeds through both aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Here, we're aiming to quantify the contributions of both pathways to the ultimate out-gassing of N2O from the ocean in this region. To do so, we're utilizing two Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulations of the Pacific (25km horizontal resolution) and the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (10km + 5km).
https://www.authorea.com/doi/full/10.22541/essoar.167058932.27589471/v1 |