Actualités
Swot reveals fine-scale eddies efficiency in modulating ocean interior turbulence
Swot reveals that fine-scale eddies are as efficient as larger and more energetic structures in modulating turbulence in the ocean interior
![Swot captures small structures previously elusive to nadir altimetry. (a) Swot vorticity derived from the SSH using the geostrophic assumption between 20 and 24 August 2023. (b) Gridded nadir altimetry geostrophic vorticity on 22 August 2023. Note the different color scales. from [Rolland et al. 2026].](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/9/csm_Rolland_etal_2026_Figure7-1140x557_686d48282c.png "Swot and Gridded nadir vorticity from [Rolland et al. 2026].")
Swot captures small structures previously elusive to nadir altimetry. (a) Swot vorticity derived from the SSH using the geostrophic assumption between 20 and 24 August 2023. (b) Gridded nadir altimetry geostrophic vorticity on 22 August 2023. Note the different color scales. from [Rolland et al. 2026].
Using data collected during Swot Calval phase, a study published in "Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans" shows that fine-scale eddies (less than 100 km) in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea are as efficient as large and intense structures found in western boundary currents and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system in transferring wind energy into the ocean interior. These findings might apply to the rest of the global ocean characterized by low energy and thus provide a new challenge to parameterize this process in Earth system models.
Reference: Rolland, R., Bouruet-Aubertot, P., Cuypers, Y., Bosse, A., Petrenko, A., Maytie, T., et al. (2026). Near-inertial wave trapping inside a fine-scale anticyclonic eddy during the BioSWOT-Med 2023 cruise: Turbulence and energy flux. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 131, e2025JC022984. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JC022984
See the full story on Swot ADaC web site:
Publication: Swot reveals that fine-scale eddies are as efficient as larger and more energetic structures in modulating turbulence in the ocean interior
Archives 
