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Eddy activity in the Arctic Ocean projected to surge in a warming world

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyue Li

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Qiang Wang

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Sergey Danilov

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research
    Constructor University)

  • Nikolay Koldunov

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Caili Liu

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Vasco Müller

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Dmitry Sidorenko

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Thomas Jung

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research
    University of Bremen)

Abstract

Ocean eddies play a critical role in climate and marine life. In the rapidly warming Arctic, little is known about how ocean eddy activity will change because existing climate models cannot resolve Arctic Ocean mesoscale eddies. Here, by employing a next-generation global sea ice–ocean model with kilometre-scale horizontal resolution in the Arctic, we find a surge of eddy kinetic energy in the upper Arctic Ocean, tripling on average in a four-degree-warmer world. The driving mechanism behind this surge is an increase in eddy generation due to enhanced baroclinic instability. Despite the decline of sea ice, eddy killing (a process in which eddies are dampened by sea ice and winds) will not weaken in its annual mean effect in the considered warming scenario. Our study suggests the importance of adequately representing Arctic eddy activity in climate models for understanding the impacts of its increase on climate and ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyue Li & Qiang Wang & Sergey Danilov & Nikolay Koldunov & Caili Liu & Vasco Müller & Dmitry Sidorenko & Thomas Jung, 2024. "Eddy activity in the Arctic Ocean projected to surge in a warming world," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(2), pages 156-162, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:14:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-023-01908-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01908-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benjamin A. Storer & Michele Buzzicotti & Hemant Khatri & Stephen M. Griffies & Hussein Aluie, 2022. "Global energy spectrum of the general oceanic circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
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