Impact of Mesoscale Circulations on Near-Inertial Wave Energy Flux in
the Kuroshio Extension
Abstract
This study uses mooring data from two years (November 2017 to October
2019) to estimate downward energy flux (Fz) of near-inertial waves
(NIWs) in the Kuroshio Extension. By dividing the data into 11-day
segments, the temporal variability of the effective near-inertial
frequency and group velocity due to background mesoscale motions (BMMs)
was considered. During winter when NIWs were active, on average in
anticyclonic circulations, Fz increased by 50%, while in cyclonic
circulations, Fz decreased by 45% when the BMMs were considered. Since
cyclonic circulations are twice as frequent, Fz decreased by
approximately 17%, or 0.37 x 10-3 W m-2. This amount is approximately
1.8 times greater than that in the northeastern Pacific and accounts for
approximately 28% of the wind work rate, similar to high-resolution
numerical model results. Thus, the Kuroshio Extension is an important
area for NIWs energy transfer, and BMMs should be considered for
accurate NIWs energetics.