Spatial and temporal variability of submesoscale eddies over a broad and gently sloping continental shelf

Submesoscale eddies (SMEs) are critical for oceanic energy dynamics and nutrient transport. This study explores the potential generation mechanisms, temporal and spatial variability of SMEs, over a period of 11 years (2012 to 2022), in a wide continental shelf with a gentle slope and bathymetric terraces in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, the Argentine Continental Shelf. The analysis revealed space and time patterns of SMEs, with a notable increase in activity during colder months (autumn and winter) and a predominance of cyclonic structures over anticyclonic ones. Regions with high tidal energy dissipation, upwelling mechanisms, and frontal systems were identified as hotspots of SMEs occurrences. Moreover, cyclonic eddies were found to follow a tidal front’s seasonal migration pattern. Satellite-detected eddies exhibit predominantly elliptical shapes, suggesting the influence of horizontal shear and interactions with topographic interactions. Furthermore, over 96 % of the detected cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies have radii below the baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation, highlighting their small-scale nature (mostly under 12 km equivalent radius). This research provides a framework for future studies on SMEs in marine ecosystems, improving our understanding of their role in ocean dynamics and fisheries productivity.