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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Oceanography: Physical: Currents
  • Oceanography: Physical: Eddies and mesoscale processes
  • Oceanography: Physical: General circulation
  • Oceanography: Physical: Turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes
  • Geographic Location: Pacific Ocean

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 33, L03605, 4 PP., 2006
doi:10.1029/2005GL024645

Zonal jets in the Pacific Ocean

K. J. Richards

International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

N. A. Maximenko

International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

F. O. Bryan

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

H. Sasaki

Earth Simulator Center, JAMSTEC, Yokohama, Japan

The spatial and temporal properties of zonally coherent jet-like structures found in high resolution ocean models is examined. We focus on the Pacific Ocean. We find the properties of the jets are not very sensitive to the model configuration. Distinct differences are found in the persistence and vertical structure of the jets poleward of 30°N and S compared with those in the tropics. We make a quantitative comparison between the meridional scale of the jets and the Rhines scale. We find a local scaling applies in that the horizontal variation of the meridional scale of the jets is consistent with horizontal variations in the Rhines scale.

Received 15 September 2005; accepted 21 December 2005; published 4 February 2006.

Citation: Richards, K. J., N. A. Maximenko, F. O. Bryan, and H. Sasaki (2006), Zonal jets in the Pacific Ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L03605, doi:10.1029/2005GL024645.

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