Advances in Earth Science ›› 2017, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 1039-1049. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2017.10.1039

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Review of the Atmospheric Response to the Ocean Mesoscale Eddies

Weibiao Li( ), Haoya Liu, Rong Fang   

  1. School of Atmospheric Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
  • Received:2017-07-12 Revised:2017-09-02 Online:2017-12-20 Published:2017-10-20
  • About author:

    First author:Li Weibiao (1965-), male, Wuzhou City, Guangxi Province, Professor. Research areas include the tropical meteorology and the air-sea interaction.E-mail:eeslwb@mail.sysu.edu.cn

  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China“Effects of the ocean mesosale eddies over the South China Sea on the local atmospheric circulations and weather systems”(No.41675043)and “Summer short period oscillations over the South China Sea and the related air-sea interaction processes”(No.41375050).

Weibiao Li, Haoya Liu, Rong Fang. Review of the Atmospheric Response to the Ocean Mesoscale Eddies[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2017, 32(10): 1039-1049.

As one of the most important mesoscale ocean features, the mesoscale eddies are omnipresent and have significant impact on the overlying atmosphere. Based on the comprehensive review of the influence of mesoscale eddies on the atmospheric boundary layer and the local circulation, the corresponding physical mechanisms and their impacts on weather systems were presented systematically. ①Eddy-induced SST anomalies may modify the surface wind speed, horizontal divergence, cloud and precipitation through turbulence heat flux anomalies. Meanwhile, additional secondary circulations arise over the eddies. What is more, there are obvious regional and seasonal differences for atmospheric responses. ② Studies in the South China Sea, the Kuroshio Extension region and the Southern Ocean indicate that atmospheric responses to mesoscale eddies can be explained by the changes of sea level pressure or the vertical momentum transport. These two mechanisms can be distinguished by the phase relationship between the atmospheric anomaly center and the eddy core. Diagnosis on the inner dynamical processes may draw better conclusions. ③The energy conversions are affected by mesoscale eddies, which may affect storm tracks and jet streams, and finally result in distant influences on weather patterns. Moreover, sea temperature anomalies from sea surface to the thermocline associated with mesoscale eddies have significant impacts on the intensification and the maintenance of tropical cyclones.

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