Global Estimation of the Eddy Kinetic Energy Dissipation from a
Diagnostic Energy Balance
Abstract
Mesoscale eddies regulate the ocean heat and carbon budgets. However,
how and where the kinetic energy flows out from the mesoscale reservoir
remains uncertain. In this study, a simplified equation of the mesoscale
energy budget is used to obtain a global estimation of the eddy
dissipation rate. This framework is first validated in a global ocean
model and then applied to a density climatology and a global
reconstruction of the eddy kinetic energy field. We find a global
disipation rate of 0.66±0.19 TW for the mesoscale kinetic energy, in
agreement with recent independent estimates. The results also show an
intense dissipation near western boundary currents and in the Antarctic
Circumpolar Current, where both large levels of energy and baroclinic
conversion occur. The resulting geographical distribution of the
dissipation rate brings new insights for closing the ocean kinetic
energy budget, as well as constraining future mesoscale
parameterizations and associated mixing processes.