Vertical structure of ocean mesoscale eddies with implications for parameterizations of tracer transport

The vertical structure of the transfer coefficient in this parameterization is studied using data from a 0.1 degrees resolution global ocean-ice simulation. The vertical structure is found to be well approximated by a baroclinic mode structure with no flow at the bottom, though horizontal anisotropy is crucial for obtaining a good fit.

This vertical structure is motivated by reference to the vertical structure of mesoscale eddy velocity and density anomalies, which are also diagnosed from the data.