Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements
The present study introduces a comprehensive, open-access atlas of mesoscale eddies in the global ocean, as identified and tracked by the TOEddies algorithm implemented on a global scale. Unlike existing atlases, TOEddies detects eddies directly from absolute dynamic topography (ADT) without spatial...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4336 |
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| author | Artemis Ioannou Lionel Guez Rémi Laxenaire Sabrina Speich |
| author_facet | Artemis Ioannou Lionel Guez Rémi Laxenaire Sabrina Speich |
| author_sort | Artemis Ioannou |
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| description | The present study introduces a comprehensive, open-access atlas of mesoscale eddies in the global ocean, as identified and tracked by the TOEddies algorithm implemented on a global scale. Unlike existing atlases, TOEddies detects eddies directly from absolute dynamic topography (ADT) without spatial filtering, preserving the natural spatial variability and enabling precise, high-resolution tracking of eddy dynamics. This dataset provides daily information on eddy characteristics, such as size, intensity, and polarity, over a 30-year period (1993–2023), capturing complex eddy interactions, including splitting and merging events that often produce networks of interconnected eddies. This unique approach challenges the traditional single-trajectory perspective, offering a nuanced view of eddy life cycles as dynamically linked trajectories. In addition to traditional metrics, TOEddies identifies both the eddy core (characterized by maximum azimuthal velocity) and the outer boundary, offering a detailed representation of eddy structure and enabling precise comparisons with in situ data. To demonstrate its value, we present a statistical overview of eddy characteristics and spatial distributions, including generation, disappearance, and merging/splitting events, alongside a comparative analysis with existing global eddy datasets. Among the multi-year observations, TOEddies captures coherent, long-lived eddies with lifetimes exceeding 1.5 years, while highlighting significant differences in the dynamic properties and spatial patterns across datasets. Furthermore, this study integrates TOEddies with 23 years of colocalized Argo profile data (2000–2023), allowing for a novel examination of eddy-induced subsurface variability and the role of mesoscale eddies in the transport of global ocean heat and biogeochemical properties. This atlas aims to be a valuable resource for the oceanographic community, providing an open dataset that can support diverse applications in ocean dynamics, climate research, and marine resource management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-823c8a569ff44d64927416b9ba799c4e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-823c8a569ff44d64927416b9ba799c4e2024-11-26T18:20:28ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-11-011622433610.3390/rs16224336Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ MeasurementsArtemis Ioannou0Lionel Guez1Rémi Laxenaire2Sabrina Speich3École Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, LMD-IPSL, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, FranceÉcole Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, LMD-IPSL, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, FranceÉcole Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, LMD-IPSL, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, FranceÉcole Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, LMD-IPSL, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, FranceThe present study introduces a comprehensive, open-access atlas of mesoscale eddies in the global ocean, as identified and tracked by the TOEddies algorithm implemented on a global scale. Unlike existing atlases, TOEddies detects eddies directly from absolute dynamic topography (ADT) without spatial filtering, preserving the natural spatial variability and enabling precise, high-resolution tracking of eddy dynamics. This dataset provides daily information on eddy characteristics, such as size, intensity, and polarity, over a 30-year period (1993–2023), capturing complex eddy interactions, including splitting and merging events that often produce networks of interconnected eddies. This unique approach challenges the traditional single-trajectory perspective, offering a nuanced view of eddy life cycles as dynamically linked trajectories. In addition to traditional metrics, TOEddies identifies both the eddy core (characterized by maximum azimuthal velocity) and the outer boundary, offering a detailed representation of eddy structure and enabling precise comparisons with in situ data. To demonstrate its value, we present a statistical overview of eddy characteristics and spatial distributions, including generation, disappearance, and merging/splitting events, alongside a comparative analysis with existing global eddy datasets. Among the multi-year observations, TOEddies captures coherent, long-lived eddies with lifetimes exceeding 1.5 years, while highlighting significant differences in the dynamic properties and spatial patterns across datasets. Furthermore, this study integrates TOEddies with 23 years of colocalized Argo profile data (2000–2023), allowing for a novel examination of eddy-induced subsurface variability and the role of mesoscale eddies in the transport of global ocean heat and biogeochemical properties. This atlas aims to be a valuable resource for the oceanographic community, providing an open dataset that can support diverse applications in ocean dynamics, climate research, and marine resource management.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4336mesoscale eddiesremote sensingsatellite altimetryeddy tracking methodssubsurface oceanic signaleddy–eddy interactions |
| spellingShingle | Artemis Ioannou Lionel Guez Rémi Laxenaire Sabrina Speich Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements Remote Sensing mesoscale eddies remote sensing satellite altimetry eddy tracking methods subsurface oceanic signal eddy–eddy interactions |
| title | Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements |
| title_full | Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements |
| title_short | Global Assessment of Mesoscale Eddies with TOEddies: Comparison Between Multiple Datasets and Colocation with In Situ Measurements |
| title_sort | global assessment of mesoscale eddies with toeddies comparison between multiple datasets and colocation with in situ measurements |
| topic | mesoscale eddies remote sensing satellite altimetry eddy tracking methods subsurface oceanic signal eddy–eddy interactions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4336 |
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