@article{fdi:010075217,
  title = {{E}ddy-induced salinity changes in the tropical {P}acific},
  author = {{D}elcroix, {T}hierry and {C}haigneau, {A}lexis and {S}oviadan, {D}. and {B}outin, {J}. and {P}egliasco, {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he signature of westward propagating mesoscale eddies in sea surface salinity ({SSS}) is analyzed for the tropical {P}acific by collocating 7years (2010-2016) of {S}oil {M}oisture and {O}cean {S}alinity {SSS} satellite data with coherent mesoscale eddies automatically identified and tracked from altimetry-derived sea level anomalies. {F}irst, the main characteristics of the long-lived coherent eddies are inferred from sea level anomalies maps. {T}hen, the mean signature of the mesoscale eddies on {SSS} is depicted for the whole tropical {P}acific before focusing in regions centered around the central and eastern parts of the tropical {N}orth {P}acific. {I}n these areas, composite analyses based on thousands of eddies reveal regionally dependent eddy impacts with opposite {SSS} anomalies for cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. {I}n the central region, where the largest meridional {SSS} large-scale gradients and smallest eddy amplitudes are observed, results show dipole-like {SSS} changes with maximum anomalies on the leading edge of the composite eddy. {I}n contrast, in the eastern region, where the largest near-surface vertical salinity gradients and largest eddy amplitudes are observed, the composite eddy shows monopole-like {SSS} changes with maximum anomalies near the composite eddy center. {T}hese distinct dipole/monopole {SSS} patterns suggest the dominant role of horizontal advection and vertical processes in the central and eastern regions, respectively. {O}ther possible explanations, notably one involving the contrasted eddy amplitudes of the two regions, are discussed. {P}lain {L}anguage {S}ummary {S}ea surface salinity ({SSS}) is an {E}ssential {C}limate {V}ariable needed to improve our knowledge of the {E}arth's water cycle and climate. {SSS} has proven to be valuable for improving estimates of evaporation minus precipitation ({E}-{P}) budgets, describing and understanding climate variability at seasonal to decadal time scales, testing physical processes, assessing numerical model skills, quantifying the role of salinity on sea level change, improving {E}l {N}ino prediction lead time, and quantifying the ocean-atmosphere {CO}2 exchanges. {V}ery few studies have, however, focused on what we call small-scale (that is mainly eddies of the order of 50- to 300-km radius) {SSS} changes in the open ocean, mainly due to the lack of high-resolution measurements. {R}elying on unprecedented satellite measurements of {SSS}, the present study shows how eddies in the tropical {P}acific can modify the spatial distribution of {SSS}. {W}e suggest that these modifications are likely due (i) to the rotational sense of the eddies, which move {SSS} horizontally, and (ii) to their capability to move or mix waters up and down while rotating.},
  keywords = {{PACIFIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch : {O}ceans},
  volume = {124},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {374--389},
  ISSN = {2169-9275},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1029/2018jc014394},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075217},
}