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Warm rings in mesoscale eddies in a cold straining ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Huizi Dong

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Meng Zhou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • James C. McWilliams

    (University of California)

  • Roshin P. Raj

    (Norway and Bjerknes Center for Climate Research)

  • Francesco d’Ovidio

    (Oceanography and Climate Laboratory: Experiments and Numerical Approaches (LOCEAN-IPSL))

  • Ilker Fer

    (University of Bergen and Bjerknes Center for Climate Research)

  • Lixin Qu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Bo Qiu

    (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • Lia Siegelman

    (San Diego)

  • Zhengguang Zhang

    (Ocean University of China
    Laoshan Laboratory)

  • Walker O. Smith

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ann Kristin Sperrevik

    (Norwegian Meteorological Institute)

Abstract

The warm and saline Atlantic Water has long been recognized as being subjected to substantial heat loss during its transit towards the polar regions. In particular, the Lofoten Basin, a subpolar sea with energetic eddy activity and strong air-sea interactions, plays a crucial role in the transformation of Atlantic Water. Vertical heat transport at submesoscales (0.1-10 km) in the Lofoten Basin is potentially a key link in the heat transfer to the atmosphere. Here, based on multi-year Seaglider observations augmented by satellite altimeters, radiometers, and high-resolution numerical model results, we evaluate the oceanic vertical heat transport in the Lofoten Basin and demonstrate how geostrophic strain enhances heat transport. The enhancement is found to be associated with submesoscale ageostrophic motions along the mesoscale eddy edges, occurring on spatial scales smaller than 10 km and below the mixed layer depth. These strain-induced submesoscale vertical motions transport heat from the ocean interior to the surface, leading to a 0.4 °C increase in sea surface temperature and the formation of “warm ring” structures in both cyclones and anticyclones. The dominant role of submesoscale heat transport likely represents the primary mechanism for substantial heat loss from Atlantic Water in the Lofoten Basin.

Suggested Citation

  • Huizi Dong & Meng Zhou & James C. McWilliams & Roshin P. Raj & Francesco d’Ovidio & Ilker Fer & Lixin Qu & Bo Qiu & Lia Siegelman & Zhengguang Zhang & Walker O. Smith & Ann Kristin Sperrevik, 2025. "Warm rings in mesoscale eddies in a cold straining ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64308-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64308-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lixin Qu & Leif N. Thomas & Aaron F. Wienkers & Robert D. Hetland & Daijiro Kobashi & John R. Taylor & Fucent Hsuan Wei Hsu & Jennifer A. MacKinnon & R. Kipp Shearman & Jonathan D. Nash, 2022. "Rapid vertical exchange at fronts in the Northern Gulf of Mexico," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Zhan Su & Jinbo Wang & Patrice Klein & Andrew F. Thompson & Dimitris Menemenlis, 2018. "Ocean submesoscales as a key component of the global heat budget," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Marina Lévy & Peter J. S. Franks & K. Shafer Smith, 2018. "The role of submesoscale currents in structuring marine ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Changming Dong & James C. McWilliams & Yu Liu & Dake Chen, 2014. "Global heat and salt transports by eddy movement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-6, May.
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