Upper-layer Circulation Research Articles

Contribution of the wind and Loop Current eddies to the circulation in the western Gulf of Mexico

The roles of the Loop Current (LC) and associated eddies in driving the circulation of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) have been investigated for several decades from different perspectives. Nevertheless, a clear understanding of the relative contributions of the wind forcing and the Loop Current eddies (LCEs) to the GoM circulation and variability remain lacking. In this study, the roles of these two factors in sustaining the less well-known western GoM upper-layer (~1000 m) circulation are investigated with two numerical experiments using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). First, we examine the relative contributions of the wind and LCEs in setting the mean circulation in the western GOM. We then perform a vorticity balance to analyze the relative importance of the physical processes, including the wind stress, involved in sustaining the western GoM circulation. The results show that the wind stress contributes to a mean anticyclonic circulation in the central and northwestern Gulf, while in the southwestern subregion both wind and LCEs combine to induce a cyclonic circulation, highlighting the role of wind stress curl and topographic confinement. The vorticity balance analysis conducted in the upper layer of the western basin shows that planetary vorticity and stretching are primarily responsible for the balance in time scales longer than weeks, and their co-variability are good indicators of LCEs entering the central and northwestern subregions. However, the southwestern subregion is primarily driven by vortex stretching. Mean advection of vorticity and planetary vorticity are also contributors to the time-averaged vorticity field. Since the wind stress is distributed over the upper layer of the GoM, direct input of vorticity in the regional vorticity balance is negligible, but it does play a role through the vortex stretching term. The results also suggest that wind forcing acts to produce larger, faster moving, and longer-lived anticyclonic eddies that impact the western Gulf and modulate the circulation over monthly timescales.

Stratification of Indonesian Throughflow Water and Its Circulation along 125E in the Banggai - Maluku Sea

secondary pathway of Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) that enters from its inflow portal of the northern Maluku Sea is assumed to recirculate in the Banggai - Maluku Sea, where its upper-layer circulation returns into the Pacific and deeper flows continue southward into Seram/Banda Sea via Lifamatola Strait. However, direct observation in this key region is still limited. Here, using direct CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) casts and shipboard ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Curent Profiler) measurement datasets from BUDEE (Banggai Upwelling Dynamics and Ecosystem Experiment) cruise in September 2023, we study stratification and structure of ITF water and its circulation in a meridional section along 125E. The results show the water mass stratification of the mixed layer having a depth of 0-75m with a temperature range of 26-29°C, while the thermocline layer has a depth of 28-407m with a temperature range of 23-26°C, and the deep layer has a depth of 407-1000m with a temperature value of 4-12°C. The current pattern of the Banggai Sea Maluku Sea at a depth of 52-400m is more dominantly influenced by non-tidal currents, the influence of tidal currents only covers a depth of 52m less than non-tidal currents.

Observable Large-Scale Impacts of Tropical Cyclones on the Subtropical Gyre

Abstract The large-scale ocean circulation in an ocean basin was previously thought to be impacted cumulatively by all the overlying tropical cyclones (TCs). Based on idealized numerical experiments and altimetry observation, this study reveals that, unnecessarily by cumulative impacts, a single TC actually has the ability to plow the large-scale sea surface height (SSH) field due to the TC-induced geostrophic response. This ability is dictated by the along-track length scale of the geostrophic response, i.e., the total track length. Some of the observed along-track signals, including the SSH trough, jet, and SSH rise, can confirm the TC-induced large-scale impacts. Shortly after the TC passage, the observable large-scale signals are generally the SSH trough. However, the jet and the SSH rise easily emerge from the evolved SSH trough due to Rossby wave dispersion. By identifying and tracking the observable signals, this study demonstrates that the subtropical gyre primarily over 4°–20°N, 122°E–180° is plowed by nine typhoons (2015) into several large blocks of SSH troughs and SSH rises. These long-lived SSH troughs and SSH rises dominate the upper-layer circulation from April to December in 2015. If the large-scale signals cannot be observed, the estimated TC-induced mean SSH decreases suggest that the large-scale impacts may still exist but merely cannot be seen intuitively. This study provides compelling observational evidence for the TC-induced large-scale impacts, further highlighting that TCs may play a nonnegligible role in the upper-ocean dynamics in the subtropical gyre. Significance Statement This study aims to demonstrate the ability of a typhoon to affect the large-scale ocean dynamics. The ability manifests as some along-track signals in altimetry observations, including sea surface height trough, jet, and sea surface height rise, which can be frequently observed after some typhoons in 2015. The sea surface height field in the western North Pacific is continuously plowed by these typhoons into several large blocks of sea surface height troughs and rises. These long-lived sea surface height troughs and rises dominate the upper-layer circulation from April to December in 2015. This study indicates that typhoons play a vital role in the upper-ocean dynamics in the western North Pacific.

Dynamics of the Layered Circulation Inferred from Kinetic Energy Pathway in the South China Sea

AbstractWe investigated the mean kinetic energy (MKE) and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in the South China Sea to illustrate the dynamics of the vertically rotating cyclonic–anticyclonic–cyclonic (CAC) circulation in the upper, middle, and deep layers. We found that strong MKE along the basin slope and the associated EKE arising from the vertical shear and stratification of the mean current characterize the circulation. In the upper layer, the external MKE input from the Kuroshio intrusion and wind forcing drive the cyclonic circulation, with the wind forcing providing most of the EKE. External forcing, however, does not directly provide the MKE and EKE of the CAC circulation in the semi-enclosed middle and deep layers, where the internal pressure work near Luzon Strait and the vertical buoyancy flux (VBF) in the southern basin and along the western slope maintain the MKE and EKE. The internal pressure work is formed by ageostrophic motion and pressure gradient field associated with circulation. The VBF is generated by vertical motion induced by the geostrophic cross-isobath transport along the slope where variable density field is maintained by the external flow and the internal mixing. The kinetic energy pathway in the CAC circulation indicates that the external forcing dominates upper-layer circulation and the coupling between internal and external dynamics is crucial for maintaining the circulation in the middle and deep layers. This study provides a new interpretation to the maintenance of CAC circulation from energy prospect.

Influence of Abyssal Mixing on the Multilayer Circulation in the South China Sea

AbstractBy parameterizing the abyssal mixing as the exchange velocity (entrainment/detrainment) between the middle and deep layers of the South China Sea (SCS), its effects on the multilayer circulation are examined. Results indicate that the cyclonic circulation in the deep SCS appears only when the mixing induces an entrainment of at least 0.72 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) from the deep to the middle layer, which is equivalent to a diapycnal diffusivity of 0.65 × 10−3 m2 s−1 or a net input rate of gravitational potential energy (GPE) of 6.89 GW, respectively. It is also found that tidal mixing in the SCS is stronger than the threshold for the generation of the cyclonic abyssal circulation, but the pattern and evolution of the deep circulation and meridional overturning circulation also depend on the spatiotemporal variability of the mixing. Moreover, the abyssal mixing is able to intensify the anticyclonic circulation in the middle layer but weaken the cyclonic circulation in the upper layer. Vorticity analysis suggests that the upward net flux induced by the abyssal mixing leads to vortex stretching (squeezing) and modulates the pressure gradient by redistributing the layer thickness, hence affects the pattern and strength of the circulation in the middle (deep) layer of the SCS, respectively. The depth-integrated effect of the thickness variation can modulate the pressure gradient across all layers and hence influence the upper-layer circulation.

Characteristics of the East Sea (Japan Sea) circulation depending on surface heat flux and its effect on branching of the Tsushima Warm Current

The effects of the surface heat flux and wind forcing on the East Sea (Japan Sea) circulation and the branching of the Tsushima Warm Current were investigated using a three-dimensional circulation model (RIAMOM). For the numerical experiments with surface heat flux, regardless of wind forcing, the Tsushima Warm Current, the Nearshore Branch, and the East Korea Warm Current were well simulated in the southern part of the East Sea. Furthermore, the cold water mass of 1–2 °C was formed at a depth of 200–250 m because of the convection of the upper layer and ventilation that actively occurs in the northern part of the East Sea. However, in the experiments without surface heat flux, the East Korea Warm Current was not simulated. The Tsushima Warm Current through the Korea/Tsushima Strait flows mostly northeastward along the Japanese coast as the Nearshore Branch. Moreover, the cold water mass was not formed at the northern part of the East Sea, thus the 1–2 °C cold water was distributed below 300–400 m depth with weak ventilation. The upper layer in the southern part of the East Sea, ranging from the surface to the bottom of the pycnocline, was thicker than the case of the surface heat flux forcing. Since the Tsushima Warm Current flowing through the Korea/Tsushima Strait is dominantly affected by the continental slope of the Japanese coast, the current does not lead to formation of the East Korea Warm Current as a western boundary current. If the effect of the continental slope of the Japanese coast is not applied, the Tsushima Warm Current flows only along the Korean coast as a western boundary current. The numerical experiments reveal that the surface heat flux serves as a critical external forcing which controls the topographic and planetary beta effects on the upper layer circulation in the southern part of the East Sea.Therefore, if the surface heat flux is changed due to global warming in the future, the distribution of surface currents is also expected to change in the southern part of the East Sea.

Long-Term Monitoring of the Atlantic Jet through the Strait of Gibraltar with HF Radar Observations

The present work focuses on the long-term coastal monitoring of the Atlantic surface inflow into the Mediterranean basin through the Strait of Gibraltar. Hourly current maps provided during 2016–2017 by a High Frequency radar (HFR) system were used to characterize the Atlantic Jet (AJ) since changes in its speed and direction modulate the upper-layer circulation of the Western Alboran Gyre (WAG). The AJ pattern was observed to follow a marked seasonal cycle. A stronger AJ flowed north-eastwards during autumn and winter, while a weaker AJ was directed more southwardly during the middle of the year, reaching a minimum of intensity during summertime. A strong relationship between AJ speeds and angles was evidenced: the AJ appeared to be frequently locked at an angle around 63°, measured clockwise from the North. The AJ speed usually fluctuated between 50 cm·s−1 and 170 cm·s−1, with occasional drops below 50 cm·s−1 which were coincident with abrupt modifications in AJ orientation. Peaks of current speed clearly reached values up to 250 cm·s−1, regardless of the season. A number of persistent full reversal episodes of the surface inflow were analyzed in terms of triggering synoptic conditions and the related wind-driven circulation patterns. High sea level pressures and intense (above 10 m·s−1), permanent and spatially-uniform easterlies prevailed over the study domain during the AJ collapse events analyzed. By contrast, tides seemed to play a secondary role by partially speeding up or slowing down the westward currents, depending on the phase of the tide. A detailed characterization of this unusual phenomenon in the Strait of Gibraltar is relevant from diverse aspects, encompassing search and rescue operations, the management of accidental marine pollution episodes or efficient ship routing.

Intraseasonal-to-Interannual Variability of the Upper-Layer Zonal Currents in the Tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean

The upper-layer circulation in the Tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean (TNWP) is characterized by the alternating zonal currents, such as North Equatorial Current (NEC) and Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC). The variabilities of the upper-layer zonal currents in the TNWP, which were obtained directly from 75 kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements and indirectly from geostrophic calculations, were investigated on intraseasonal to interannual timescales from 2006 to 2014. Surface geostrophic current derived from sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) approximated well to the in-situ measurements with ADCP that was slightly better than the absolute geostrophic current obtained from AVISO. The interannual signals related to the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) were quite apparent, especially near the boundary (about 17.5°N–19°N) between NEC and STCC. We found that the eastward-flowing southern STCC develops during the decaying phase of ENSO and weakens during La Nina. Strong easterlies during strong La Nina (e.g., 2010 La Nina event) seem to influence NEC to expand further north to the southern STCC region and this coincides with the meridional migration of the Sverdrup streamfunction. The southern STCC region is profoundly influenced by the mesoscale/sub-mesoscale eddy activities, which can intensify the eastward flow of STCC and ultimately contribute to the intraseasonal signal. We found that this intraseasonal signal weakened when La Nina happened in 2010, which is presumably associated with the northward expansion of NEC. Possible factors related to the discrepancies between surface geostrophic current and sub-surface ADCP data are discussed.

Upper layer circulation, hydrography, and biological response of the Andaman waters during winter monsoon based on in situ and satellite observations

Upper layer circulation, hydrography, and biological response of Andaman waters during winter monsoon are assessed based on the observations carried out onboard FORV Sagar Sampada during January 2009 and November–December 2011. Cool and dry air carried by the moderate winds (6 m/s) from north and northeast indicates the influence of northeast monsoon (NEM) in the area during the observation time. The characteristics of physical parameters and the water mass indicate that the southeastern side is dominated by the less saline water from South China Sea intruded through the Malacca Strait, whereas the northeast is influenced by the freshwater from Ayeyarwady-Salween river system. The western side of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands exhibits similar properties of Bay of Bengal (BoB) water as evidenced in the T-S relation. Circulation pattern is uniform for the upper 88 m and is found to be more geostrophic rather than wind driven. Magnitude of the current velocity varies between 100 and 900 mm/s in November–December 2011 with strong current (900 mm/s) near Katchal and Nancowry islands and 100 and 1000 mm/s in January 2009 recording strong current (1000 mm/s) near the Little Nicobar Island. The Andaman waters are observed as less productive during the season based on the satellite-derived surface chl-a (0.1–0.4 mg/m3) and column-integrated primary productivity (PP) (100–275 mgC/m2/d).

Near-Surface and Deep Circulation Coupling in the Western Gulf of Mexico

AbstractThe coupling between the upper (z < 1000-m depth) and deep (z > 1500 m) circulation in the western Gulf of Mexico (WGoM) driven by the arrival of Loop Current eddies (LCEs) is analyzed from moorings measuring horizontal velocity in the full water column during a 5-yr period (October 2008–October 2013). Nine LCEs crossing the mooring array are documented. A composite of these events shows that strong northward currents at depth having speeds of 0.1–0.2 m s−1 precede (~10–20 days) the strong northward near-surface currents (~0.5 m s−1) characteristic of the western rim of the LCEs. These deep northward flow intensifications are followed by southward deep flows coupled with the surface-intensified southward current of the eastern (rear) part of the LCEs crossing the array. These results are consistent with the existence of a deep anticyclone leading and a cyclone trailing the upper-layer LCEs. Objectively interpolated regional maps of velocities and vertical vorticity obtained from up to 30 moorings indicate the mean circulation at 100-m depth in the northern WGoM is mostly anticyclonic and enhanced by the arrival of the westward-propagating LCEs, while the southern part is dominated by the presence of a semipermanent cyclonic structure (Bay of Campeche cyclonic gyre). At 1500-m depth, the mean circulation follows the slope in a cyclonic sense and shows a cyclonic vorticity maximum on the abyssal plane consistent with the LCE deep flow composites. This suggests the LCEs strongly modulate not only the upper-layer circulation but also impact the deep flow.

Progress on deep circulation and meridional overturning circulation in the South China Sea

The deep overflow through the Luzon Strait drives the cyclonic deep circulation in the South China Sea (SCS). In the mean time, the intruding Pacific deep water transforms and upwells due to enhanced diapycnal mixing in the SCS. Both processes greatly contribute to the SCS meridional overturning circulation (SCSMOC). At the same time, both the deep circulation and meridional overturning circulation are modulated by rough topography in the SCS. Furthermore, the spatial structure of the SCSMOC infers a link between the upper-layer circulation and deep circulation in the SCS. This paper reviews recent advances in the SCS deep circulation and meridional overturning circulation, including the driving mechanism of the SCS deep circulation and its modulation by topography, as well as the spatial structure of the SCSMOC and its dynamical mechanism.

Observation of the abyssal western boundary current in the Philippine Sea

Mooring observations were conducted from July 16, 2011 to March 30, 2012 east of Mindanao, Philippines (127A degrees 2.8'E, 8A degrees 0.3'N) to observe the abyssal current at about 5 600 m deep and 500 m above the ocean bottom. Several features were revealed: 1) the observed abyssal current was highly variable with standard deviations of 57.3 mm/s and 34.0 mm/s, larger than the mean values of -31.9 and 16.6 mm/s for the zonal and meridional components, respectively; 2) low-frequency current longer than 6 days exhibited strong seasonal variation, flowing southeastward (mean flow direction of 119.0A degrees clockwise from north) before about October 1, 2011 and northwestward (mean flow direction of 60.5A degrees counter-clockwise from north) thereafter; 3) the high-frequency flow bands were dominated by tidal currents O-1, K-1, M-2, and S-2, and near-inertial currents, whose frequencies were higher than the local inertial frequency. The two diurnal tidal constituents were much stronger than the two semidiurnal ones. This study provides for the first time an observational insight into the abyssal western boundary current east of Mindanao based on long-term observations at one site. It is meaningful for further research into the deep and abyssal circulation over the whole Philippine Sea and the 3D structure of the western boundary current system in this region. More observational and high-resolution model studies are needed to examine the spatial structure and temporal variation of the abyssal current over a much larger space and longer period, their relation to the upper-layer circulation, and the underlying dynamics.

A two-layer primitive equation model of an idealized Strait of Gibraltar connected to an eastern basin

We describe the solutions of a numerical two-layer primitive equation model of an idealized Strait of Gibraltar and an adjacent eastward basin. The quasi-steady circulation pattern in the basin features an anticyclonic gyre southward of the strait exit and an eastward boundary current attached to the southern boundary of the basin. A variation of the initial upper-layer depth and the target interface height at the eastern boundary causes minor changes of the upper-layer circulation in a basin with rectangular coastline and larger changes when a cape is added to the coastline of the southern boundary.

Revised circulation scheme north of the Denmark Strait

The circulation and water mass transports north of the Denmark Strait are investigated using recently collected and historical in situ data along with an idealized numerical model and atmospheric reanalysis fields. Emphasis is placed on the pathways of dense water feeding the Denmark Strait Overflow Water plume as well as the upper-layer circulation of freshwater. It is found that the East Greenland Current (EGC) bifurcates at the northern end of the Blosseville Basin, some 450km upstream of the Denmark Strait, advecting overflow water and surface freshwater away from the boundary. This “separated EGC” flows southward adjacent to the previously identified North Icelandic Jet, indicating that approximately 70% of the Denmark Strait Overflow Water approaches the sill along the Iceland continental slope. Roughly a quarter of the freshwater transport of the EGC is diverted offshore via the bifurcation. Two hypotheses are examined to explain the existence of the separated EGC. The atmospheric fields demonstrate that flow distortion due to the orography of Greenland imparts significant vorticity into the ocean in this region. The negative wind stress curl, together with the closed bathymetric contours of the Blosseville Basin, is conducive for spinning up an anti-cyclonic gyre whose offshore branch could represent the separated EGC. An idealized numerical simulation suggests instead that the current is primarily eddy-forced. In particular, baroclinic instability of the model EGC spawns large anti-cyclones that migrate offshore and coalesce upon reaching the Iceland continental slope, resulting in the separated EGC. Regardless of the formation mechanism, the recently obtained shipboard data and historical hydrography both indicate that the separated EGC is a permanent feature of the circulation north of the Denmark Strait.

Response of the South China Sea upper layer circulation to monsoon anomalies during 1997/1998 El Niño event

One of the strongest El Niño events on record took place in the tropical Pacific in 1997–1998, causing remarkable changes in monsoon systems over the South China Sea (SCS) basin. This would induce prominent anomalies in the SCS upper layer circulation. The monsoon anomalies and the response of the upper layer circulation over the SCS during the 1997–1998 El Niño event are examined through data analysis and ocean numerical modeling, respectively. The winter monsoon and summer monsoon show southerly wind anomalies and northeasterly wind anomalies respectively during 1997/98 El Niño event, which was a reversal of the climatology. In contrast to climatology, the weakening of the winter monsoon does not change the upper layer circulation pattern, but causes a prominent change in the strength of the western boundary current. Corresponding to the anomalies of the summer monsoon, the upper layer circulation shows changes not only in magnitude, but also in structure from the climatology. The changes of the structure lie in the bifurcation of the western boundary current.

Upper layer circulation in the Luzon Strait

Several observations including Argos satellite-tracked drifters, Argo profilers and altimetry satellite data were analyzed to understand the upper layer circulation in the Luzon Strait. The different role of the wind and the Kuroshio on the Luzon upper layer circulation has been revealed using a reduced gravity model. The observations show that the Kuroshio has a relatively stable pattern with some of Kuroshio water entering the South China Sea in winter. Circulation in the Luzon Strait is mainly controlled by the Kuroshio and the monsoon wind, which have different roles. The Kuroshio could induce a cyclonic gyre west of the Luzon Strait in either summer or winter which is stronger and extends more westward as the Kuroshio becomes stronger. The monsoon wind could drive a cyclonic gyre in the Luzon Strait in summer. In winter, an anticyclonic gyre and a cyclonic gyre are produced southwest of Taiwan Island and northwest of Luzon Island respectively, resulting in a strong westward current in the middle of the Luzon Strait.

1997/98 El Niño–Induced Changes in Rainfall Vertical Structure in the East Pacific

Abstract The 1997/98 El Niño–induced changes in rainfall vertical structure in the east Pacific (EP) are investigated by using collocated Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) and associated daily SST and 6-hourly reanalysis data during January, February, March, and April of 1998, 1999, and 2000. This study shows that there are five key parameters, that is, surface rain rate, precipitation-top height (or temperature), and precipitation growth rates at upper, middle, and low layers to define a rainfall profile, and those five key parameters are strongly influenced by both SST and large-scale dynamics. Under the influence of 1997/98 El Niño, the precipitation-top heights in the EP were systematically higher by about 1 km than those under non–El Niño conditions, while the freezing level was about 0.5 km higher. Under the constraints of rain type, surface rain rate, and the precipitation top, the shape of rainfall profile still showed significant differences: the rain growth was relatively faster in the mid-layer (−5° to +2°C isotherm) but slower in the lower layer (below +2°C isotherm) under the influence of El Niño. It is also evident that the dependence of precipitation top height on SST was stronger under large-scale decent (non–El Niño) circulations but much weaker under large-scale ascent (El Niño) circulations. The combined effect of larger vertical extent and greater growth rate in the middle layer further shifted latent heating upward as compared with the impact of horizontal changes in the rain type fractions (convective versus stratiform). Such additional latent heating shift would certainly further elevate circulation centers and strengthen the upper-layer circulation.

Seasonal circulations in the Malay Peninsula Eastern continental shelf from a wave–tide–circulation coupled model

A wave–tide–circulation coupled model based on Princeton Ocean Model is established to study the seasonal circulation in the Malay Peninsula Eastern Continental Shelf region. The model successfully reconstructs the observed seasonal variation of the circulation in the region, as well as the main currents. The simulated tidal harmonic constants, sea surface temperature, and sea surface height anomaly agree with the observations well. The model results show that the upper-layer circulation in the region is mainly controlled by the monsoon winds, while there are two transitions in spring and fall. An anti-cyclonic eddy is present off the Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast in summer, centered at 5°N and 105.5°E, both in the TOPEX/Poseidon data and in the model. Numerical experiments show that the wind stress curl and bathymetry steering are responsible for its formation.

The Irminger Gyre: Circulation, convection, and interannual variability

In this study 36 hydrographic transects occupied between 1991 and 2007 in the vicinity of the WOCE A1E/AR7E section are used to investigate various aspects of the Irminger Gyre, a narrow cyclonic recirculation in the southwest Irminger Sea. Vertical sections of absolute geostrophic velocity were constructed using satellite and shipboard velocity measurements, and analyzed in conjunction with the hydrographic data and meteorological fields. The Irminger Gyre is a weakly baroclinic feature with a mean transport of 6.8±1.9 Sv ( 1 Sv = 10 6 m 3 / s ). At mid-depth it contains water with the same properties as Labrador Sea Water (LSW). During the 17-year study period large changes occurred in the gyre and also within the boundary flow encircling the Irminger Sea. The gyre intensified and became more stratified, while the upper-layer circulation of the boundary current system weakened. The latter is consistent with the overall decline of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre reported earlier. However, the decline of the upper-ocean boundary currents was accompanied by an intensification of the circulation at deeper levels. The deep component of both the northward-flowing boundary current (the Irminger Current) and the southward-flowing boundary current (the Deep Western Boundary Current) strengthened. The increase in transport of the deep Irminger Current is due to the emergence of a second deep limb of the current, presumably due to a shift in pathways of the branches of the subpolar gyre. Using a volumetric water mass analysis it is argued that LSW was formed locally within the Irminger Gyre via deep convection in the early 1990s. In contrast, LSW appeared outside of the gyre in the eastern part of the Irminger Sea with a time lag of 2–3 years, consistent with transit from the Labrador Sea. Thus, our analysis clarifies the relative contributions of locally-versus remotely-formed LSW in the Irminger Sea.

Decadal variability and scales of the sea surface structure in the northern Ionian

The variability and scales of the sea surface structure of the northern Ionian Sea from January 1993 to December 2007 were studied by means of altimeter remotely-sensed weekly Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) objective maps. Variability in the sea surface structure was addressed by means of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and, assuming an exponential correlation model, scales of the SLA field were quantified as e-folding distances of the SLA autocorrelation function. The variability in the sea surface structure, described by the first three EOFs, which cumulatively explain 60.3% of the data set variance, is characterized by a large-scale structure with variability on a time scale of ∼10–13 years and, on shorter scales, an eddy system with variability on an annual scale. The variability in the large-scale structure describes an overturning of the SLA field, which took place in 1997, and determines a reversal of the geostrophic upper-layer circulation. As the large-scale circulation transition takes place, time-dependent spectral analysis of EOF coefficients shows a redistribution of the spectral energy from inter-annual to semi-annual and monthly components. Spatial scales display variability on an annual and inter-annual time scale. On the annual time scale, variability in spatial scales is characterized by longer values in summer–fall and shorter in winter–spring. Inter-annual variability in spatial scales is demonstrated by a remarkable drop in the values during fall in the period 1998–2000. We propose an explanation of the variability in horizontal scales in terms of the redistribution of water masses and related modifications of the vertical structure of the water column associated with different regimes of the basin-scale circulation.