The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Submesoscale Eddy Dynamics and Energy Transfer in a Tidally Dominated Coastal System
ID:150 Oral Presentation

2027-01-12 14:00 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 38 - Oceanic (Sub)mesoscale Processes and Their Climate Impacts

Abstract
The southern coast of Korea is characterized by energetic barotropic tidal flows interacting with complex island–channel topography, leading to the recurrent generation of tide-driven submesoscale eddies (TSMEs). Using a high-resolution depth-averaged barotropic model, we investigate TSMEs generated within Yokji-myeon coastal system, where energetic tidal jets, flow separation, and intense horizontal shear repeatedly organize transient eddies that leave persistent imprints on the residual gyres. The residual vorticity balance is primarily governed by mean vorticity advection and eddy vorticity flux divergence, indicating rapid redistribution of vorticity associated with accelerating and curving tidal jets. Energetic analyses further show that barotropic shear instability provides the principal pathway for TSMEs growth, with persistent mean-to-eddy kinetic energy (KE) conversion concentrated along frontal shear zones surrounding topographically constrained tidal jets. The evolving TSMEs additionally mediate bidirectional KE transfer across spatial scales. Downscale transfer dominates during the growth stage of energetic tidal jets, whereas localized upscale transfer emerges around mature and decaying vortices, indicating partial redistribution of KE back toward the larger-scale tidal flow. Together, these results suggest that TSMEs actively couple oscillatory tidal forcing, residual circulation, and cross-scale energy transfer within strongly tide-dominated coastal systems, with potentially important implications for coastal mixing and material transport.
 
Speaker
Sin-Young Kim BK21 School of Earth and Environmental System, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea

Author
Sin-Young Kim BK21 School of Earth and Environmental System, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

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    • Apr 30

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

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    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027