999 / 2024-09-20 00:57:26

Drivers of the Eddy Kinetic Energy Trend in the Kuroshio Extension

eddy kinetic energy trend; Kuroshio Extension; baroclinic instability; poleward shift

Oceanic eddies play a significant role in regulating marine ecosystems and climate. In the Kuroshio Extension, high eddy kinetic energy (EKE) is generated through both barotropic and baroclinic instabilities. However, the long-term trend of EKE in the Kuroshio Extension remains poorly ecosystems. Using satellite observations and high-resolution reanalysis data, we identify a "sandwich-like" EKE trend structure, characterized by alternating positive-negative-positive trends in the region. This pattern is driven by the Kuroshio large meander and the baroclinic instability, which exhibit a positive-negative trend structure due to a poleward shift of the Kuroshio Extension. Our study sheds light on the dynamic processes underlying the EKE trend in this region.