12 Oceanic Planetary Waves and Eddies
207
background primary production. The symmetric increase/decrease suggests a net
weak effect over the basin, but the question is still open and will undoubtedly be
the subject of further studies. These will have to make the most of the intrinsic synergies between biogeochemical modelling and satellite observations, but, as ever,
altimetry is expected to be the reference for the detection and characterization of the
propagating features.
12.5 Conclusions
The clarity with which eddies and planetary waves manifest themselves in altimetric
SSH fields has allowed for an unprecedented progress in our knowledge of these
important features of ocean dynamics. Brilliant scientific advances – like the characterization of planetary waves that has prompted physical oceanographers to revisit
the theoretical framework – have been accompanied by puzzling discoveries (like
the occurrence of planetary wave signals in ocean colour fields) that deserve
further research. This chapter has reviewed some of the findings and looked briefly
at several of the questions still open on planetary waves and eddies.
A very important possibility that opens now, by virtue of the altimetric record
now approaching 18 year long, is to detect decadal-scale changes and trends in the
occurrence and qualities of eddies and planetary waves, changes that in some cases
might be related to climate change. This possibility is certainly going to be explored
in detail in the immediate future, while forthcoming altimetric missions hold a lot
of promise to extend and further improve the formidable altimetric record that is the
foundation for this branch of research.
Acknowledgements We are grateful to Jeff Blundell for his advice and for providing
the theoretical speeds from the extended theory. The altimeter products were produced by
SSALTO/DUACS and distributed by AVISO with support from CNES via the web site
www.aviso.oceanobs.com/duacs/
References
Anderson DLT, Gill AE (1975) Spin-up of a stratified ocean, with application to upwelling. Deep
Sea Res 22:583–596
Antonov JI, Locarnini RA, Boyer TP, Mishonov AV, Garcia HE (2006) World Ocean Atlas 2005,
Volume 2: salinity. In: Levitus S (ed.) NOAA Atlas NESDIS 62, US Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC, 182pp
Charria G, Dadou I, Cipollini P, Drévillon M, De Mey P, Garçon V (2006) Understanding the
influence of Rossby waves on surface chlorophyll concentrations in the North Atlantic Ocean.
J Mar Res 64:43–71
Charria G, Dadou I, Cipollini P, Drévillon M, Garçon V (2008) Influence of Rossby waves on
primary production from a coupled physical bio-geo-chemical model in the North Atlantic
Ocean. Ocean Sci 4:199–213
Chelton DB, Schlax MG (1996) Global observations of oceanic Rossby waves. Science 272:
234–238
Chelton DB, Schlax MG, Samelson RM, de Szoeke RA (2007) Global observations of large
oceanic eddies. Geophys Res Lett 34:L15606
207
background primary production. The symmetric increase/decrease suggests a net
weak effect over the basin, but the question is still open and will undoubtedly be
the subject of further studies. These will have to make the most of the intrinsic synergies between biogeochemical modelling and satellite observations, but, as ever,
altimetry is expected to be the reference for the detection and characterization of the
propagating features.
12.5 Conclusions
The clarity with which eddies and planetary waves manifest themselves in altimetric
SSH fields has allowed for an unprecedented progress in our knowledge of these
important features of ocean dynamics. Brilliant scientific advances – like the characterization of planetary waves that has prompted physical oceanographers to revisit
the theoretical framework – have been accompanied by puzzling discoveries (like
the occurrence of planetary wave signals in ocean colour fields) that deserve
further research. This chapter has reviewed some of the findings and looked briefly
at several of the questions still open on planetary waves and eddies.
A very important possibility that opens now, by virtue of the altimetric record
now approaching 18 year long, is to detect decadal-scale changes and trends in the
occurrence and qualities of eddies and planetary waves, changes that in some cases
might be related to climate change. This possibility is certainly going to be explored
in detail in the immediate future, while forthcoming altimetric missions hold a lot
of promise to extend and further improve the formidable altimetric record that is the
foundation for this branch of research.
Acknowledgements We are grateful to Jeff Blundell for his advice and for providing
the theoretical speeds from the extended theory. The altimeter products were produced by
SSALTO/DUACS and distributed by AVISO with support from CNES via the web site
www.aviso.oceanobs.com/duacs/
References
Anderson DLT, Gill AE (1975) Spin-up of a stratified ocean, with application to upwelling. Deep
Sea Res 22:583–596
Antonov JI, Locarnini RA, Boyer TP, Mishonov AV, Garcia HE (2006) World Ocean Atlas 2005,
Volume 2: salinity. In: Levitus S (ed.) NOAA Atlas NESDIS 62, US Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC, 182pp
Charria G, Dadou I, Cipollini P, Drévillon M, De Mey P, Garçon V (2006) Understanding the
influence of Rossby waves on surface chlorophyll concentrations in the North Atlantic Ocean.
J Mar Res 64:43–71
Charria G, Dadou I, Cipollini P, Drévillon M, Garçon V (2008) Influence of Rossby waves on
primary production from a coupled physical bio-geo-chemical model in the North Atlantic
Ocean. Ocean Sci 4:199–213
Chelton DB, Schlax MG (1996) Global observations of oceanic Rossby waves. Science 272:
234–238
Chelton DB, Schlax MG, Samelson RM, de Szoeke RA (2007) Global observations of large
oceanic eddies. Geophys Res Lett 34:L15606