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<p>Submesoscale processes (SMPs), including submesoscale eddies, fronts, and filaments, play a critical role in the multiscale kinetic energy (KE) cascade within the ocean. The southeast tropical Indian Ocean (SETIO) is rich in mesoscale eddies and SMPs. However, the characteristics of submesoscale KE transfer in the SETIO remain poorly understood. This study investigates the budget and cascade of submesoscale KE in the SETIO using high-resolution simulation outputs. Energetic SMPs are observed during the southeast monsoon period, primarily driven by baroclinic instability. Barotropic instability enables SMPs to enhance mesoscale activity in the SETIO. During this period, the upper SETIO experiences significant KE cascade, with a transition scale from upscale to downscale around 45&#xa0;km. Vertically, this transition scale decreases from 60&#xa0;km at the surface to 35&#xa0;km at 150&#xa0;m depth. Rotational motions drive an inverse KE cascade at larger submesoscales, modulated by mixed layer instability, while divergent motions dominate surface-intensified forward KE cascade at smaller submesoscales, associated with submesoscale frontal instabilities and frontogenesis. This study highlights the significance of SMPs in modulating eddy activities and multiscale dynamics in the SETIO.</p>

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Characteristics of submesoscale kinetic energy transfer in the southeast tropical Indian Ocean during 2011–2012

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月29日

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  • Yifei Zhou,
  • Xuhua Cheng,
  • Wei Duan

摘要

Submesoscale processes (SMPs), including submesoscale eddies, fronts, and filaments, play a critical role in the multiscale kinetic energy (KE) cascade within the ocean. The southeast tropical Indian Ocean (SETIO) is rich in mesoscale eddies and SMPs. However, the characteristics of submesoscale KE transfer in the SETIO remain poorly understood. This study investigates the budget and cascade of submesoscale KE in the SETIO using high-resolution simulation outputs. Energetic SMPs are observed during the southeast monsoon period, primarily driven by baroclinic instability. Barotropic instability enables SMPs to enhance mesoscale activity in the SETIO. During this period, the upper SETIO experiences significant KE cascade, with a transition scale from upscale to downscale around 45 km. Vertically, this transition scale decreases from 60 km at the surface to 35 km at 150 m depth. Rotational motions drive an inverse KE cascade at larger submesoscales, modulated by mixed layer instability, while divergent motions dominate surface-intensified forward KE cascade at smaller submesoscales, associated with submesoscale frontal instabilities and frontogenesis. This study highlights the significance of SMPs in modulating eddy activities and multiscale dynamics in the SETIO.