Effect of surface mesoscale eddies on deep-sea currents and mixing in the northeastern South China Sea

Abstract Recent studies suggest that deep-reaching surface-generated eddies result in anomalous current velocities in the deep sea, and ultimately lead to energy transfer from mesoscale to small-scale motions. Here we examine the influence of mesoscale eddies on deep-sea subinertial and near-inertial currents, and on possible enhanced oceanic mixing in the deep South China Sea (SCS). We analyzed current velocity data for nearly a full water column. Data were obtained using acoustic Doppler current profilers and recording current meters on a deep-sea mooring system at a depth of 2100 m in the northeastern SCS from October 2012 to May 2013. A highly nonlinear southwestward-propagating anticyclonic eddy was detected via a resolved sea-surface-level anomaly. This eddy induced pronounced subinertial currents with a characteristic time scale of 1–2 months and a maximum velocity of up to 0.2 m s –1 at the subsurface and 0.1 m s –1 at great depth. Near-inertial energy co-occurring with subinertial flows showed a distinctive vertical propagation trend during strong subinertial oscillations in the deep sea. During periods of strong subinertial and near-inertial kinetic energy, estimates of diapycnal diffusivity in the deep ocean showed approximately 10-fold enhancement, with a mean value of 1.2×10 –3  m 2  s –1 compared to the background value of 1.4×10 –4  m 2  s –1 . The results provide observational evidence of the effect of surface-observed mesoscale motions on benthic currents and ocean mixing in the deep SCS.

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