Journal article

Eddy cancellation of the Ekman cell in subtropical gyres

Abstract:: The presence of large-scale Ekman pumping associated with the climatological wind stress curl is the textbook explanation for low biological activity in the subtropical gyres. Using an idealized eddy-resolving model it is shown that Eulerian-mean Ekman pumping may be opposed by an eddy-driven circulation, analogous to the way in which the atmospheric Ferrel cell and the Southern Ocean Deacon cell are opposed by eddy-driven circulations. Lagrangian particle tracking, potential vorticity fluxes, and depth-density streamfunctions are used to show that, in the model, the rectified effect of eddies acts to largely cancel the Eulerian-mean Ekman downwelling. To distinguish this effect from eddy compensation, it is proposed that the suppression of Eulerian-mean downwelling by eddies be called ``eddy cancellation.''

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Doddridge, E., Marshall, D., & Hogg, A. (2016). Eddy cancellation of the Ekman cell in subtropical gyres. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 46(10), 2995–3010.

MLA Style

Doddridge, E., et al. “Eddy Cancellation of the Ekman Cell in Subtropical Gyres.” Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol. 46, no. 10, American Meteorological Society, 2016, pp. 2995–3010.

Chicago Style

Doddridge, E, D Marshall, and A Hogg. 2016. “Eddy Cancellation of the Ekman Cell in Subtropical Gyres.” Journal of Physical Oceanography 46 (10): 2995–3010.
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Files:: jpo-d-16-0097%2E1.pdf

(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 1.7MB, Terms of use)

Publisher copy:: 10.1175/JPO-D-16-0097.1

Authors

+ Doddridge, E More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Physics
Sub department:: Atmos Ocean & Planet Physics
Role:: Author

+ Marshall, D More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Physics
Role:: Author

+ Hogg, A More by this author

Role:: Author

Publisher:: American Meteorological Society
Journal:: Journal of Physical Oceanography More from this journal
Volume:: 46
Issue:: 10
Pages:: 2995–3010
Publication date:: 2016-06-01
Acceptance date:: 2016-06-09
DOI:: 10.1175/JPO-D-16-0097.1
EISSN:: 1520-0485
ISSN:: 0022-3670

Pubs id:: pubs:627843
UUID:: uuid:b53bc9b2-c622-46b1-aecf-9ff86411f0f2
Local pid:: pubs:627843
Source identifiers:: 627843
Deposit date:: 2016-06-14

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: American Meteorological Society
Copyright date:: 2016
Notes:: © 2016 American Meteorological Society. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Licence:: CC Attribution (CC BY)

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