Response of Ocean Mesoscale Coherent Eddies to Global Warming

Yang, Zhibin, Jing, Zhao and Zhai, Xiaoming (2026) Response of Ocean Mesoscale Coherent Eddies to Global Warming. Geophysical Research Letters. ISSN 0094-8276 (In Press)

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Abstract

Mesoscale vertically coherent ocean eddies - defined here as eddies maintaining rotational coherence across depth - play a fundamental role in Earth's climate system by redistributing heat, salt, and other tracers. Yet it remains unclear how these eddies will respond to global warming. Here, we address this question using an eddy-resolving (0.1{degree sign}) Community Earth System Model under a high-emission scenario. Between 60S and 60N, the eddy radius becomes larger in line with the increased baroclinic Rossby deformation radius caused by intensified stratification. The eddies exhibit larger density and salinity anomalies as a result of increased eddy radius and enhanced horizontal background density and salinity gradients. Both eddy kinetic and potential energy are reduced in the ocean interior due to a weakened baroclinic energy conversion pathway under intensified stratification. These findings highlight the significant anthropogenic impacts on mesoscale coherent eddies, with potential implications on their-induced heat and material transports in a warming climate.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Open Research: The CESM-HR output can be downloaded from the website https://ihesp.github.io/archive/products/ds_archive/Sunway_Runs.html. The satellite-derived geostrophic velocity data can be obtained from Copernicus Marine Service (European Union-Copernicus Marine Service, 2017). The mesoscale eddy automatic detection code is available to the public, and can be downloaded from Yang (2025). The Gibbs-SeaWater (GSW) Oceanographic Toolbox can be downloaded from http://www.TEOS-10.org/.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Related URLs:	https://ueanorwich-my.sharepoint.com/:b:...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	13 Apr 2026 15:43
Last Modified:	20 Apr 2026 00:25
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102767
DOI:

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