Low-frequency variations of the Eastern Subtropical Front in the North Pacific in an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model: roles of central mode water in the formation and maintenance

2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shusaku Sugimoto ◽  
Kimio Hanawa ◽  
Tamaki Yasuda ◽  
Goro Yamanaka
Ocean Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. Bingham ◽  
T. Suga

Abstract. Winter mixed layer characteristics in the North Pacific Ocean are examined and compared between Argo floats in 2006 and the World Ocean Atlas 2001 (WOA01) climatology for a series of named water masses, North Pacific Tropical Water (NPTW), Eastern Subtropical Mode Water (ESTMW), North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW), Light Central Mode Water (LCMW) and Dense Central Mode Water (DCMW). The WOA01 is found to be in good agreement with the Argo data in terms of water mass volumes, average temperature-salinity (T-S) properties, and outcrop areas. The exception to this conclusion is for the central mode waters, DCMW and LCMW, whose outcropping is shown to be much more intermittent than is apparent in the WOA01 and whose T-S properties vary from what is shown in the WOA01. Distributions of mixed layer T-S properties measured by floats are examined within the outcropping areas defined by the WOA01 and show some shifting of T-S characteristics within the confines of the named water masses. In 2006, all the water masses were warmer than climatology on average, with a magnitude of about 0.5°C. The NPTW, NPSTMW and LCMW were saltier than climatology and the ESTMW and DCMW fresher, with magnitudes of about 0.05. In order to put these results into context, differences between Argo and WOA01 were examined over the North Pacific between 20 and 45° N. A large-scsale warming and freshening is seen throughout this area, except for the western North Pacific, where results were more mixed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeki Hosoda ◽  
Shang-Ping Xie ◽  
Kensuke Takeuchi ◽  
Masami Nonaka

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 2276-2293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuya Toyama ◽  
Aiko Iwasaki ◽  
Toshio Suga

AbstractSpatiotemporal variability of the subduction rate in the North Pacific from 2005 to 2012 is examined based on the Argo observational data. The subduction rate in the subtropical North Pacific varies significantly from year to year between 25 and 50 Sverdrups (Sv; 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), and it is well correlated with the Pacific decadal oscillation. The temporal change of the subduction rate is largely determined by that of the late winter mixed layer depth through the lateral induction term. The increase (decrease) in the subduction rate in the subtropical mode water areas accompanies densification (lightening) of the mode density class of the subducted water. The subduction rate variability in the central mode water and eastern subtropical mode water regions is anticorrelated as found in the previous study using the output from an ocean GCM. The subduction rate in the central mode water density range changes dramatically, which is very large in 2005 and 2010 but almost disappears in 2009. The subduction rate variability in the western subtropical mode water regions seems to be correlated with the Pacific decadal oscillation with a lag of a few years.


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