Aroucha L. C., Veleda D., Lopes F. S., Tyaquica P., Lefèvre Nathalie, Araujo M. (2020). Intra- and inter-annual variability of North Brazil Current rings using angular momentum eddy detection and tracking algorithm : observations from 1993 to 2016. Journal of Geophysical Research : Oceans, 125 (12), e2019JC015921 [13 p.]. ISSN 2169-9275.
Titre du document
Intra- and inter-annual variability of North Brazil Current rings using angular momentum eddy detection and tracking algorithm : observations from 1993 to 2016
Année de publication
2020
Auteurs
Aroucha L. C., Veleda D., Lopes F. S., Tyaquica P., Lefèvre Nathalie, Araujo M.
Source
Journal of Geophysical Research : Oceans, 2020,
125 (12), e2019JC015921 [13 p.] ISSN 2169-9275
In order to investigate intra- and inter-annual variability of North Brazil Current (NBC) rings, angular momentum eddy detection and tracking algorithm (AMEDA) was used for identification of their occurrence, trajectories, and parameters. Based on 24 years (1993-2016) of geopotential height and geostrophic current fields reanalysis data from ARMOR 3D (1/4 degrees), we identified an average rate of five NBC rings shed by year. The rings present an average lifetime of 15.3 (+/- 5.4) weeks, average speed-based radius (R-max) of 139.8 (+/- 23.6) km, and mean sea surface height anomaly (SSHa) of 9.4 (+/- 4.0) cm. The mean observed maximum azimuthal velocity (V-max) was 0.27 (+/- 0.08) m/s, while the averaged Rossby number (Ro) value was 0.08 (+/- 0.04) and averaged kinetic energy (KE) was of 255.3 (+/- 154.8) cm(2)/s(2). NBC rings have larger dimensions, rotate faster, live less, and transfer more energy in boreal winter months. In contrast, those shed during boreal summer and early fall last longer, have smaller diameters and carry less energy. Besides, the analysis of ring merging pointed that the interaction between NBC rings generated a significantly increase in ring energy (52%), and velocity (22%). Finally, we observed the vertical anomalies temperature and salinity profiles, which indicated a thermocline deepening and sinking of coastal and tropical waters due to NBC rings downwelling. This study emphasizes the robustness and efficiency of AMEDA for studying rings in the ocean and further theorizes possible impacts of NBC ring on ocean physical and biogeochemical features in the Western Tropical North Atlantic.
Plan de classement
Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032]
Description Géographique
BRESIL ; ATLANTIQUE ; ZONE TROPICALE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010080564]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010080564
