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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2175
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2175
21 May 2025
 | 21 May 2025

Hidden vortices: Near-equatorial low-oxygen extremes driven by high-baroclinic-mode vortices

Florian Schütte, Johannes Hahn, Ivy Frenger, Arne Bendinger, Fehmi Dilmahamod, Marco Schulz, and Peter Brandt

Abstract. Long-term time series of dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements from the upper 500 m depth of the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA), collected over a period of up to 15 years at three different mooring sites, reveal recurring extreme low-oxygen events lasting for several weeks. Similarly, observations from 15 individual meridional ship sections between 6° N and 12° N along 23° W show DO concentrations far below 60 µmol kg⁻¹ in the upper 200 m – significantly lower than the climatological values at this depth (>80 µmol kg⁻¹). Two-third of these low-oxygen events could be related with high-baroclinic-mode vorticies (HBVs) with their cores located well below the mixed layer. Despite the energetic equatorial circulation and the expected dominance of wave-like structures in the near-equatorial region, these HBVs persist as relatively long-lived and coherent features. Based on moored and shipboard observations from the ETNA, and supported by an eddy-resolving ocean-biogeochemistry model, we characterize their dynamics and DO distribution. Observed water mass properties and model analyses suggest that most HBVs originate from the eastern boundary and can persist for more than six months. As they propagate westward into regions of higher potential vorticity (PV), anticyclonic HBVs with low-PV cores remain more effectively isolated and have longer lifespans compared to cyclonic HBVs with high-PV core. The vertical structure of the dominant anticyclonic HBVs corresponds to baroclinic modes 4–10, with associated Rossby radii ranging from 34 km to 13 km, respectively. This is consistent with observed eddy sizes and is well below the corresponding 1st baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation (> 100 km). Since none of the observed HBVs exhibit a surface signature, a substantial portion of the near-equatorial eddy field may remain undetected by satellites, yet still exert significant influence on ocean ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

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Florian Schütte, Johannes Hahn, Ivy Frenger, Arne Bendinger, Fehmi Dilmahamod, Marco Schulz, and Peter Brandt

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2175', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2175', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jun 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2175', Eric Machu, 24 Jun 2025
Florian Schütte, Johannes Hahn, Ivy Frenger, Arne Bendinger, Fehmi Dilmahamod, Marco Schulz, and Peter Brandt
Florian Schütte, Johannes Hahn, Ivy Frenger, Arne Bendinger, Fehmi Dilmahamod, Marco Schulz, and Peter Brandt

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Short summary
We found extreme drops in oxygen levels in the tropical Atlantic linked to surprisingly long-lived, small subsurface eddies. These eddies are hidden beneath the surface (undetectable by satellites) and are unusually stable, even in the highly dynamic ocean near the equator. Using long-term measurements and computer models, we show that these features can strongly influence oxygen supply and potentially impact marine ecosystems.
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