Statistical Analysis of Mesoscale Eddy Characteristics in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Abstract

In this paper, the mesoscale eddy data set established by Professor Chelton in Oregon State University is used to analyse the statistical characteristics of mesoscale eddies in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Mesoscale eddies in this region are divided into short-lived, Mid-lived, and long-lived eddies according to their life cycle with the aim of exploring the characteristics of eddies with different life cycles. Those with a life cycle of less than 6 weeks, 6-9 weeks, and more than 9 weeks are defined as short-lived eddies, mid-lived eddies, and long-lived eddies, respectively. The results show that most of the eddies are short lived eddies with a lifetime of 6 weeks or less. Both short-lived eddies and Mid-lived eddies have more cyclonic eddies than anticyclonic eddies. But long-lived eddies have more anticyclonic eddies than cyclonic eddies. In addition, the number of short-lived eddies in the Subtropical Ocean is more than those in the Kuroshio Extension, while the number of long-lived eddies is the opposite.