Three-dimensional dynamic analysis of observed mesoscale eddy in the South China Sea based on complex network theory

Mesoscale eddies have drawn extensive attention due to their central role in ocean energy and mass transport. From July to August 2017, we launched thirteen Petrel-II underwater gliders developed by the Tianjin University, China, in the South China Sea to observe a mesoscale eddy and obtain relatively complete three-dimensional (3D) data. The complex network methodology is advanced to construct a novel Ocean Observation Complex Network (OOCN) with multilayer structure, based on the continuous observation data with higher resolution acquired by Petrel-II gliders. The hierarchical structure of the mesoscale eddy is obtained, which partly validates the three-compartment structure of the eddy. A number of interesting results shows that the dynamic structure analysis can be carried for mesoscale eddies and other complex ocean phenomena. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2020