Generative data assimilation highlights fronts as key regulators of ocean energy cascade

[2608.14955] Generative data assimilation highlights fronts as key regulators of ocean energy cascade Skip to main content Search Submit Donate Log in Search arXiv Press Enter to search · Advanced search Physics > Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics arXiv:2608.14955 (physics) [Submitted on 15 Aug 2026] Title: Generative data assimilation highlights fronts as key regulators of ocean energy cascade Authors: Scott A. Martin , Georgy E. Manucharyan , Patrice Klein View a PDF of the paper titled Generative data assimilation highlights fronts as key regulators of ocean energy cascade, by Scott A. Martin and 2 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract: Mesoscale eddies are fundamental to the ocean circulation, yet the extent to which submesoscale motions, a few kilometers across, influence mesoscale eddy energetics through a kinetic energy cascade remains uncertain. High-resolution simulations predict that submesoscale fronts are key regulators of the cascade, transferring energy both downscale towards dissipation and upscale to sustain and shape the seasonality of mesoscale eddies. Testing these predictions has remained difficult because existing observations and state estimates cannot resolve submesoscale currents over sufficiently broad domains. Here we map the ocean's submesoscale energy cascade by combining multi-source satellite observations with a generative deep learning framework, reconstructing gap-free, kilometer-scale surface currents with physically plausible dynamics learned from simulations. Applying this to the eddy-rich Agulhas Current system, we find that submesoscales energize the mesoscale through an upscale energy cascade above 10 km, contributing to the seasonality of mesoscale eddies. Below 10 km, convergence at submesoscale fronts drives a downscale cascade towards dissipation. Both upscale and downscale pathways concentrate within fronts, where cross-scale transfer is up to an order of magnitude more efficient. Despite their limited extent, fronts account for a substantial fraction of the domain-integrated cascade, establishing them as key regulators of the cascade and targets for next-generation eddy parameterizations. Comments: Under review at Communications Earth & Environment Subjects: Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) ; Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI) Cite as: arXiv:2608.14955 [physics.ao-ph] (or arXiv:2608.14955v1 [physics.ao-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.14955 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite Submission history From: Scott Martin [ view email ] [v1] Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:08:05 UTC (11,591 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled Generative data assimilation highlights fronts as key regulators of ocean energy cascade, by Scott A. 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