| Summary: | Ocean eddies generated through instability of the mean flow are a vital component of the energy budget of the global ocean1-3. In equilibrium, the sources and sinks of eddy energy have to be balanced. However, where and how eddy energy is removed remains uncertain3,4. Ocean eddies are observed to propagate westwards at speeds similar to the phase speeds of classical Rossby waves5, but what happens to the eddies when they encounter the western boundary is unclear. Here we use a simple reduced-gravity model along with satellite altimetry data to show that the western boundary acts as a "graveyardg" for the westward-propagating ocean eddies. We estimate a convergence of eddy energy near the western boundary of approximately 0.1-0.3 TW, poleward of 10°in latitude. This energy is most probably scattered into high-wavenumber vertical modes, resulting in energy dissipation and diapycnal mixing. If confirmed, this eddy-energy sink will have important implications for the ocean circulation. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
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