Role of Air‐Sea Interaction in the Energy Balance of Anticyclonic and Cyclonic Eddies in the Kuroshio Extension

Abstract

AbstractUsing eddy‐resolving Community Earth System Model (CESM) simulations, this study investigates mesoscale eddy energetics and the role of air‐sea interaction for both anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies (AEs and CEs) in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) region. Based on energy budget analysis and eddy tracking algorithm, it is found that eddy energy balance depicts similar characteristics for AEs and CEs. The eddy kinetic energy (EKE) is generated through barotropic instability, vertical buoyancy flux, as well as transported from the upper stream Kuroshio. In addition, the temperature variance, which is directly related to eddy potential energy, is maintained by baroclinic instability. Air‐sea heat flux and wind stress act as eddy killers to move energy from oceanic eddies. For both AEs and CEs, heat exchange between atmosphere and oceanic eddies dominates the dissipation of temperature variance and accounts for more than 60% and 72% of the total dissipation, respectively. In comparison, the role of wind power in damping the EKE is relatively small. Only 14% (5%) of EKE dissipation in AEs (CEs) is attributed to eddy wind power.