New satellite observations reveal regions of strong island‐induced wind curl leeward of Hawaii. According to Sverdrup theory, this wind curl drives an eastward current that extends from Hawaii all the way to the Asian coast. The observed Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent (HLCC), however, terminates near the dateline. This study examines the possible role of mesoscale eddies in modifying the Sverdrup solution, using an ocean model of 0.1° horizontal resolution. The model simulates an HLCC of limited zonal extent under low horizontal viscosity that permits vigorous mesoscale eddies west of Hawaii. Preliminary analysis suggests that these eddies act to limit the westward extent of the HLCC by extracting energy from the mean flow.
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Yu et al. (2003) studied this question.
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