Frontal slope: A new measure of ocean fronts

Abstract

Ocean fronts, as typical marine phenomena, significantly impact the marine environment and the distribution of organisms. However, the research on their tilted structure is limited. This study considered the frontal slope as a key parameter for describing the tilting characteristics of ocean fronts. A novel method, based on high-resolution in situ observations and reanalysis data, was proposed to extract global frontal slopes using contour lines and surfaces. To validate this approach, a mathematical model was developed for the oceanic front slope and verified through in situ observations. The frontal slope equation produced reliable results, indicating that the front tilting primarily arises from shear flow and density differences. Furthermore, a modified oceanic front gradient parameter was proposed based on the frontal slope, and its significance in understanding the impacts of ocean fronts on underwater acoustic propagation was validated through numerical simulation and statistical analysis. The distribution characteristics of frontal slope for ocean fronts on a global scale were analyzed for the first time. Marginal ice zone fronts had the highest slope (>1.5 m/km), followed by tidal mixing fronts, western boundary current fronts, and water mass convergence fronts (1–1.5 m/km). In contrast, upwelling fronts and estuarine plume fronts generally had slopes below 1 m/km. This parameter provides a new perspective on ocean front systems and their influence on dynamic structures and ecological resource distributions. This study helps in a comprehensive understanding of the tilting characteristics of the ocean front and their implications.