Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather
Abstract Ocean weather comprises vortical and straining mesoscale motions, which play fundamentally different roles in the ocean circulation and climate system. Vorticity determines the movement of major ocean currents and gyres. Strain contributes to frontogenesis and the deformation of water masse...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56310-1 |
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| author | Shikhar Rai J. Thomas Farrar Hussein Aluie |
| author_facet | Shikhar Rai J. Thomas Farrar Hussein Aluie |
| author_sort | Shikhar Rai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Ocean weather comprises vortical and straining mesoscale motions, which play fundamentally different roles in the ocean circulation and climate system. Vorticity determines the movement of major ocean currents and gyres. Strain contributes to frontogenesis and the deformation of water masses, driving much of the mixing and vertical transport in the upper ocean. While recent studies have shown that interactions with the atmosphere damp the ocean’s mesoscale vortices O(100) km in size, the effect of winds on straining motions remains unexplored. Here, we derive a theory for wind work on the ocean’s vorticity and strain. Using satellite and model data, we discover that wind damps strain and vorticity at an equal rate globally, and unveil striking asymmetries based on their polarity. Subtropical winds damp oceanic cyclones and energize anticyclones outside strong current regions, while subpolar winds have the opposite effect. A similar pattern emerges for oceanic strain, where subtropical convergent flow is damped along the west-equatorward east-poleward direction and energized along the east-equatorward west-poleward direction. These findings reveal energy pathways through which the atmosphere shapes ocean weather. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d2c9d6ff76b4efa84f9100ce8417bfe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d2c9d6ff76b4efa84f9100ce8417bfe2025-02-02T12:32:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-011611910.1038/s41467-025-56310-1Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weatherShikhar Rai0J. Thomas Farrar1Hussein Aluie2Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of RochesterDepartment of Physical Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of RochesterAbstract Ocean weather comprises vortical and straining mesoscale motions, which play fundamentally different roles in the ocean circulation and climate system. Vorticity determines the movement of major ocean currents and gyres. Strain contributes to frontogenesis and the deformation of water masses, driving much of the mixing and vertical transport in the upper ocean. While recent studies have shown that interactions with the atmosphere damp the ocean’s mesoscale vortices O(100) km in size, the effect of winds on straining motions remains unexplored. Here, we derive a theory for wind work on the ocean’s vorticity and strain. Using satellite and model data, we discover that wind damps strain and vorticity at an equal rate globally, and unveil striking asymmetries based on their polarity. Subtropical winds damp oceanic cyclones and energize anticyclones outside strong current regions, while subpolar winds have the opposite effect. A similar pattern emerges for oceanic strain, where subtropical convergent flow is damped along the west-equatorward east-poleward direction and energized along the east-equatorward west-poleward direction. These findings reveal energy pathways through which the atmosphere shapes ocean weather.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56310-1 |
| spellingShingle | Shikhar Rai J. Thomas Farrar Hussein Aluie Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather Nature Communications |
| title | Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| title_full | Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| title_fullStr | Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| title_short | Atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| title_sort | atmospheric wind energization of ocean weather |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56310-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shikharrai atmosphericwindenergizationofoceanweather AT jthomasfarrar atmosphericwindenergizationofoceanweather AT husseinaluie atmosphericwindenergizationofoceanweather |