Effects of unsteady mountain-gap winds on eddies in the Red Sea

Abstract

Atmosphere and ocean simulations capture the Tokar mountain-gap wind jet and associated eddy dipole in the Red Sea. Results suggest that, once generated by a wind event, the anticyclonic eddy is further intensified through the summer by subsequent events. An asymmetry in magnitude of the two eddies is observed with the anticyclonic eddy attaining greater magnitude. A series of simulations with idealized wind forcing show that this asymmetry is not present under steady wind forcing. This effect depends on the intermittency of the wind forcing and the presence of a background northerly wind field.