Numerical study on the eddy–mean flow interaction between a cyclonic eddy and Kuroshio

Abstract

A three-dimensional primitive equations ocean model (POM) is employed to study the momentum and energy balance of a moving cyclonic eddy (CE) during eddy–mean flow interaction. The CE generated by an idealized typhoon forms to the east of the Philippine islands. A momentum balance analysis shows that the dynamics of the CE are generally dominated by the geostrophic current throughout the life cycle of the CE. An energy analysis suggests that the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and the eddy potential energy (EPE) decay rapidly after generation. The maximum EPE initially appears at the surface of the eddy center and gradually appears in the subsurface layer. The largest baroclinic instability (BCI) initially occurs at the surface. For a CE moving along a trajectory, the conversion from mean potential energy (MPE) to the EPE is positive (negative) in the front (rear) part of the trajectory, and then the eddy transfers its EPE forward along its trajectory by means of the front (rear) part of the eddy obtaining (losing) EPE from (to) the mean flow. During the interaction stage, the northward flowing Kuroshio interacts with the southward flow on the western side of the eddy and the inverse velocity shear between the Kuroshio and the eddy causes the EKE to gradually develop east–west asymmetry. The largest barotropic instability (BTI) is found in the interaction zone. Advection term, pressure work, and friction term play the dominating role in eddy decay in the eddy zone, while BTI only dominates in the interaction zone.