Rossby Wave and Eddies in the North Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent
Abstract
In the North Pacific, Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC) has two branches: one located in the Northwestern Pacific and the other is to the west of Hawaii Islands. In both STCC regions, the SSHA exhibits remarkable oscillations with period of 80-210 days, corresponding to westward propagation of free Rossby waves. The larger amplitude of those Rossby waves in the west end of the Northwest STCC seemingly due to stronger baroclinic instability. In addition, there is also a vortex pair with the orbital period of 10-11days and the radius of 58-68km to the west of Hawaii Islands. The average T/P SSHA shows general distribution of the vortices in a region broader than that covered by the trajectories. The T/P SSHA clearly demonstrates two symmetrical arrays of cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices that are similar to the pattern of the vortex Street.
- Publication:
-
ESA Special Publication
- Pub Date:
- July 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006ESASP.614E..28L