ESS200A
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Mid-Ocean Eddies
qThe Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio spin off long-lived eddies via baroclinic and barotropic
instabilities.
qThe role of eddies for heat
transport in the ocean is likely much less than in the atmosphere.
qThe oceanic eddies are best developed well poleward of the latitude of the maximum oceanic transport.
qThe wind-driven and thermohaline circulations are likely to provide much more important contributions
to the meridional heat flux in the subtropics.
(Figure from Oceanography by
Tom Garrison)