Surface Gravity Wave Response to Air-Sea Coupling in the Gulf Stream Region: A Numerical Study

In this study, a series of high-resolution coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave simulations are performed over the Gulf Stream to investigate the interactions between oceanic eddies and ocean surface waves. In particular, we investigate how ocean surface waves influence the dynamics of oceanic eddies and vice versa. To isolate the various feedback mechanisms, we perform dedicated simulations in which the contributions of each coupling - such as direct current-wave interactions, atmospheric feedbacks, and mesoscale oceanic features - are systematically removed from the air-sea wave coupling fields. Our results show, in agreement with observations, that oceanic eddies exert a significant influence on the surface waves, not only through direct current-wave interactions, but also by modulating the overlying atmospheric conditions. This modulation is manifested by the imprint of mesoscale oceanic features on the surface wind, which in turn affects the wave dynamics. Conversely, we also study the impact of ocean surface waves on the characteristics and statistics of oceanic eddies, providing insight into how wave-induced processes can modify eddy properties.