Download - Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

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Page 1: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean EddiesIntern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger

How can we combine surface and sub-surface data to observe mesoscale eddies?

Page 2: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

What Is An Eddy?• Whirlpools• Part of ocean turbulence• Importance: - Mixing and water-mass transport - Tracer distribution & ocean dynamics

Drake Passage Eddy, NASA(Southern Hemisphere)

Page 3: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

How Can We Observe Eddies?• Altimetry (AVISO – 1992)(spatio-temporal coverage, no sub-surface data)

• In-Situ Data (Argo – early 2000s)(Vertical structure, less spatio-temporal coverage)

• Both(get the benefits of each!)

Page 4: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

ACC Eddies• Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) surrounds

Antarctica• ACC is largest current in the world• Southern Ocean dynamics

Eddy anomalies shown above. Note: North of ACC = outside of ACC, South of ACC = inside of ACC

South ACC

North ACC North ACC North ACC

Page 5: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

Eddies near South Western Australia(or “Weird” Eddies)

• Cyclones with positive anomaly• Maximum life span of 72+ weeks

(Courtesy of Ivy Frenger)

Page 6: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

“Weird” Eddy Anomalies (3+ months)(Sorted by eddy lifespan)

Bin1: <22wks Bin5: 52-61wksBin2: 22-31wks Bin6: 62-71wksBin3: 32-41wks Bin7: 72-81wksBin4: 42-51wks Bin8: >82wks

Page 7: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

Possible Origins of “Weird” Eddies• Warm surface boundary currents• Eddy-rich currents

Page 8: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

Potential Future Research • Take a closer look at salinity anomaly

crossing• Observe eddies near other boundary

currents• Use absolute values, not anomalies• Understand differences in slopes for

anticyclones vs. cyclones

Page 9: Eddy-fying Research: Understanding Properties of Southern Ocean Eddies Intern: Bridget Zakrzewski Mentor: Ivy Frenger How can we combine surface and sub-surface.

AcknowledgementsFor the continuous support throughout my summer

experience, I would like to thank:Ivy Frenger, Mentor

Professor Jorge Sarmiento, HostAOS/GFDL community, Support

Princeton Environment Institute (PEI)