Mesoscale activity in the Comoros Basin from satellite altimetry and a high‐resolution ocean circulation model
Open accessAbstract
Recently it has been shown that anticyclonic eddies are generated in the Comoros Basin contesting the long‐held notion of a single large anticyclonic cell, the Comoros Gyre. Limited knowledge exists about the mesoscale activity within the basin, a potential key source of variability for the Mozambique Channel and subsequently the Agulhas Current. In this paper an automated eddy tracking scheme, applied to satellite altimetry data and a high‐resolution model simulation, is used to determine the characteristics of the anticyclonic eddies generated in the Comoros Basin. The generation and characteristics of cyclonic eddies are also investigated. The eddy tracking scheme revealed that anticyclonic eddies are primarily generated west of the tip of Madagascar due to barotropic instabilities whereas cyclonic eddies are mainly generated along the northwest coast of Madagascar as a result of baroclinic instabilities. Anticyclonic eddies, with a mean lifespan of about 3 months, reside in the basin for half their lifespan before propagating into the Mozambique Channel. On the other hand, the majority of cyclonic eddies, with a similar mean lifespan, dissipate within the basin. Initially, the anticyclones, with translation speeds of 6–8 km d−1 and mean radii of 80–100 km, follow the trajectory of the North East Madagascar Current and turn south upon reaching the African coast. The cyclonic eddies tend to be smaller (∼60 km) and have slower translation speeds (2.5–3.5 km d−1) than their anticyclonic counterparts.
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Oceanographic conditions in the Northern Mozambique Channel, specifically cyclonic eddies generated and residing in front of the northwest coast of Madagascar, could play an important role in isolating these coral populations.
“Oceanographic conditions in the NMC could play an important role in isolating these coral populations, specifically the cyclonic eddies that are generated and reside in front of the northwest coast of Madagascar (Collins et al. 2014).”
From Population genetics of the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix reveals patterns of strong genetic differentiation in the Western Indian Ocean (2021) · cites this paper as Collins et al. 2014
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- Authors
- Collins, C., Hermes, J. C., & Reason, C. J. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- South African Environmental Observation Network (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Collins, C.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2014-08
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 4745-4760
- ISSN
- 2169-9275 (ISSN-L)
- 2169-9291
- OpenAlex
- W2152039857
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 1.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans (publishedVersion)
- Nelson Mandela University Research Repository (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Carnegie-IAS Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE)
- Western Indian Ocean Regional Initiative in Marine Science and Education (WIO-RISE) network.
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Keywords
- anticyclonic eddies, cyclonic eddies, eddy tracking, barotropic instability, baroclinic instability, Mozambique Channel, Agulhas Current, mesoscale ocean variability, Madagascar coast
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