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The hydrodynamic theory of the Cyprus Eddy

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Abstract

An analytical solution to the problem of the Cyprus warm core Eddy generation over the bottom topography non-axisymmetric perturbations in the broad area of the Eratosthenes seamount in the Levantine Basin is obtained. The solution is based on the application of barotropic and baroclinic ocean approximations, with a lateral eastward flow. The obtained results demonstrate the generation of a dipolar vortex structure over the complicated topography of the Eratosthenes seamount broad area with the generation of the anticyclonic Cyprus Eddy and, at its northwest periphery, of an additional cyclonic eddy which is periodically observed from satellites remote sensing SST. The seasonal vertical stratification appears to be responsible for the generation and evolution of the examined mesoscale eddies.  The eddies are truncated Taylor-Hogg cones, tapering towards the sea surface. In this configuration, the cones axes may significantly tilt. Moreover, the water movement within the eddies generated by the dipolar topographic system is examined based on the eddies helicity. The cold waters nature of the cyclonic eddy is explained by the formation of upwelling regions, while on the contrary, the warm waters nature of the main anticyclonic eddy is explained by the downwelling of warm surface waters surrounding the Cyprus Eddy. Finally, the Contour Dynamics Method (CDM) is applied  to analyze  the interaction of the Cyprus Eddy with vortex patches.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out in the frame of the Program No. 0147-2019-0001 (State Registration No. AAAA-A18-118022090056-0). VME and VNZ were supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR project 19-05-00522). We thank Dr. George Zodiatis from the University of Cyprus for the kindly provided array of the bottom topography in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, we thank the Reviewers for their constructive comments in improving the results of the paper. VME and MAS sadly inform the readers that our friend and colleague Prof. Valery Zyryanov passed away on February 10, 2021, and, unfortunately, will not see the article in its final form.

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  1. Institute of Water Problems, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia

    Viktoriia M. Egorova, Valery N. Zyryanov & Mikhail A. Sokolovskiy

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  1. Viktoriia M. Egorova
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Egorova, V.M., Zyryanov, V.N. & Sokolovskiy, M.A. The hydrodynamic theory of the Cyprus Eddy. Ocean Dynamics 72, 1–20 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-021-01484-7

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