@article{fdi:010083808,
  title = {{W}hat can we learn from observed temperature and salinity isopycnal anomalies at eddy generation sites ? {A}pplication in the {T}ropical {A}tlantic {O}cean},
  author = {{A}guedjou, {H}. {M}. {A}. and {C}haigneau, {A}lexis and {D}adou, {I}. and {M}orel, {Y}. and {P}egliasco, {C}. and {D}a-{A}llada, {C}. {Y}. and {B}aloitcha, {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ased on 18 years of satellite altimetry data and temperature/salinity (theta/{S}) profiles from {A}rgo floats, we analyze the isopycnal theta/{S} anomalies (theta'/{S}') within newborn eddies in the tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean ({TAO}). {O}ur results show that on density-coordinates, both anticyclonic eddies ({AE}s) and cyclonic eddies ({CE}s) can exhibit positive, negative, or nonsignificant theta'/{S}'. {A}lmost half of the sampled eddies do not have significant theta'/{S}' at their generation site. {T}he other half exhibits significant positive or negative theta', up to +/- 0.5 degrees {C} typically. {M}ore than 70% of them have a subsurface signature. {R}efined analyses of the vertical structure of new-born eddies in three selected subregions show the dominance of cold (warm) subsurface {AE}s ({CE}s) likely due to isopycnal advection of large-scale potential vorticity ({PV}) and theta. {PV} is a key parameter to analyze eddy generation and dynamics. {I}sopycnal advection, friction or diapycnal mixing can be involved in the generation of {PV} anomalies from which vortices can then emerge. {H}owever, it is difficult to evaluate {PV} at mesoscale. {I}n this study, we propose to combine theta'/{S}' and {PV} anomalies to analyze which process could be involved in its transformation in the ocean. {W}e argue that eddies created by diapycnal mixing or isopycnal advection of water-masses are associated with {PV} anomalies and significant theta'/{S}'. {I}n contrast, a frictional forcing also creates {PV} anomalies but without modifying theta/{S}. {E}ven though our results remain qualitative, the proposed diagnostics can be of interest to validate realistic models and then use them to analyze the {PV} anomaly sources.},
  keywords = {eddy generation mechanisms ; isopycnal temperature ; salinity anomalies ; mesoscale eddies ; potential vorticity ; tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch : {O}ceans},
  volume = {126},
  numero = {11},
  pages = {e2021{JC}017630 [27 p.]},
  ISSN = {2169-9275},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1029/2021jc017630},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083808},
}