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How Mesoscale Eddies Masquerade as Rossby Waves in Newly Merged Altimetric Products?
  • Chuanchuan Cao,
  • Ge Chen,
  • Xuan Wang
Chuanchuan Cao
Ocean University of China
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Ge Chen
Ocean University of China
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Xuan Wang
Ocean University of China

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Limited by under-sampling spatiotemporal resolution of satellite altimeters, isolated and oval closed eddies can appear as wave-like patterns. This problem hindered the definitely extraction of oceanic Rossby waves in former researches. The unprecedented sampling capability of the simultaneously operating six altimeters during 2016 ~ 2019 opens an opportunity to separate Rossby waves from Mesoscale-eddies. In this paper, the sampling density of newly altimetric products is analyzed and a series of 2-dimensional finite impulse response band-pass filter is used to decompose the propagating signals. The results demonstrate that filtered wave-like patterns are mainly attribute to mesoscale-eddies and the specialized filter fail to distinguish them directly. More importantly, the spurious wave-like and real Rossby wave signals can be quantified by re-filtering the preliminary eddies field. The dominant wave signals are generally observed for biannual and annual Rossby waves in three major basins and the maximum more than 25% of observed signals in mid-latitude Pacific. The Southern Indian Ocean has the most significant annual periods signals which may implicate the role ofEl Niño/Southern Oscillation. In addition, the eddies can masquerade as Rossby wave within a limited latitude, which directly related to the oceanic basin, the local characteristics of eddies and the period of masqueraded waves. Based on the conservation of potential vorticity, the transient adjustment of ocean circulation to response of the large-scale atmospheric forcing from Rossby waves turn to ubiquitous vortices at increase of latitude.