Genesis of Indian Ocean Mixed Layer Temperature Anomalies: A Heat Budget Analysis

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (20) ◽  
pp. 5375-5403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agus Santoso ◽  
Alexander Sen Gupta ◽  
Matthew H. England

Abstract The genesis of mixed layer temperature anomalies across the Indian Ocean are analyzed in terms of the underlying heat budget components. Observational data, for which a seasonal budget can be computed, and a climate model output, which provides improved spatial and temporal coverage for longer time scales, are examined. The seasonal climatology of the model heat budget is broadly consistent with the observational reconstruction, thus providing certain confidence in extending the model analysis to interannual time scales. To identify the dominant heat budget components, covariance analysis is applied based on the heat budget equation. In addition, the role of the heat budget terms on the generation and decay of temperature anomalies is revealed via a novel temperature variance budget approach. The seasonal evolution of the mixed layer temperature is found to be largely controlled by air–sea heat fluxes, except in the tropics where advection and entrainment are important. A distinct shift in the importance and role of certain heat budget components is shown to be apparent in moving from seasonal to interannual time scales. On these longer time scales, advection gains importance in generating and sustaining anomalies over extensive regions, including the trade wind and midlatitude wind regimes. On the other hand, air–sea heat fluxes tend to drive the evolution of thermal anomalies over subtropical regions including off northwestern Australia. In the tropics, however, they limit the growth of anomalies. Entrainment plays a role in the generation and maintenance of interannual anomalies over localized regions, particularly off Sumatra and over the Seychelles–Chagos Thermocline Ridge. It is further shown that the spatial distribution of the role and importance of these terms is related to oceanographic features of the Indian Ocean. Mixed layer depth effects and the influence of model biases are discussed.

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 4834-4848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Cherng Hong ◽  
Tim Li ◽  
LinHo ◽  
Jong-Seong Kug

The physical mechanism for the amplitude asymmetry of SST anomalies (SSTA) between the positive and negative phases of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) is investigated, using Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) and NCAR–NCEP data. It is found that a strong negative skewness appears in the IOD east pole (IODE) in the mature phase [September–November (SON)], while the skewness in the IOD west pole is insignificant. Thus, the IOD asymmetry is primarily caused by the negative skewness in IODE. A mixed-layer heat budget analysis indicates that the following two air–sea feedback processes are responsible for the negative skewness. The first is attributed to the asymmetry of the wind stress–ocean advection–SST feedback. During the IOD developing stage [June–September (JJAS)], the ocean linear advection tends to enhance the mixed-layer temperature tendency, while nonlinear advection tends to cool the ocean in both the positive and negative events, thus contributing to the negative skewness in IODE. The second process is attributed to the asymmetry of the SST–cloud–radiation (SCR) feedback. For a positive IODE, the negative SCR feedback continues with the increase of warm SSTA. For a negative IODE, the same negative SCR feedback works when the amplitude of SSTA is small. After reaching a critical value, the cold SSTA may completely suppress the mean convection and lead to cloud free conditions; a further drop of the cold SSTA does not lead to additional thermal damping so that the cold SSTA may grow faster. A wind–evaporation–SST feedback may further amplify the asymmetry induced by the aforementioned nonlinear advection and SCR feedback processes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 2306-2328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyla Drushka ◽  
Janet Sprintall ◽  
Sarah T. Gille ◽  
Susan Wijffels

Abstract The boreal winter response of the ocean mixed layer to the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) in the Indo-Pacific region is determined using in situ observations from the Argo profiling float dataset. Composite averages over numerous events reveal that the MJO forces systematic variations in mixed layer depth and temperature throughout the domain. Strong MJO mixed layer depth anomalies (>15 m peak to peak) are observed in the central Indian Ocean and in the far western Pacific Ocean. The strongest mixed layer temperature variations (>0.6°C peak to peak) are found in the central Indian Ocean and in the region between northwest Australia and Java. A heat budget analysis is used to evaluate which processes are responsible for mixed layer temperature variations at MJO time scales. Though uncertainties in the heat budget are on the same order as the temperature trend, the analysis nonetheless demonstrates that mixed layer temperature variations associated with the canonical MJO are driven largely by anomalous net surface heat flux. Net heat flux is dominated by anomalies in shortwave and latent heat fluxes, the relative importance of which varies between active and suppressed MJO conditions. Additionally, rapid deepening of the mixed layer in the central Indian Ocean during the onset of active MJO conditions induces significant basin-wide entrainment cooling. In the central equatorial Indian Ocean, MJO-induced variations in mixed layer depth can modulate net surface heat flux, and therefore mixed layer temperature variations, by up to ~40%. This highlights the importance of correctly representing intraseasonal mixed layer depth variations in climate models in order to accurately simulate mixed layer temperature, and thus air–sea interaction, associated with the MJO.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Tandon ◽  
Emily Shroyer ◽  
Ramasamy Venkatesan ◽  
Andrew Lucas ◽  
J. Thomas Farrar ◽  
...  

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Air-Sea interaction in the Bay of Bengal has a strong coupling with the Monsoon rains over the South Asian region. The wet and dry spells, or active-break cycles of the Asian summer monsoon are governed by different modes of intra-seasonal variability with implied northward and westward propagation. Multiple hypotheses exist as to how air-sea interaction and the ocean mixed layer influence the propagation of Monsoon Intra-seasonal Oscillations (MISO), but the multi-scale nature of atmosphere-ocean coupling is not well understood. Multi-country collaborative initiatives MISOBOB (Oceanic Control of Monsoon Intra-seasonal Oscillations in the Tropical Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal-USA), RIO-MISO (Role of the Indian Ocean on Monsoon Intra-Seasonal Oscillations-USA), and OMM (Ocean Mixing and Monsoons-India) have led to a combination of ocean observations, atmospheric observations, and associated modeling to study this phenomenon. </span></p> <p class="p2"> </p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">We present observations analyzed using the OMNI (Ocean Moored Buoy Network for Northern Indian Ocean) buoy network of India and RAMA 15N mooring along with MISOBOB field program in June 2018, which captured the onset of the 2018 Monsoon from a heavily instrumented ship that simultaneously made measurements in the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers. The shortwave and net heat fluxes show dramatic changes during the active phase with the in-situ net heat flux reversing sign. The Monsoon onset cooled all of the Central and North Bay of Bengal by 1.5 K, leading to large heat losses in the Bay, as the oceanic surface mixed layer deepened from 20m to about 40m. This talk will also explore the role of sub-surface salinity stratification in modulating cooling of the upper ocean at multiple locations across the Bay, providing a basin-wide view. Observations suggest that the air-sea interaction and ocean stratification in the Bay likely has strong feedback on the organized convection in the atmosphere.</span></p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 2377-2397 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Praveen Kumar ◽  
J. Vialard ◽  
M. Lengaigne ◽  
V. S. N. Murty ◽  
G. R. Foltz ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (13) ◽  
pp. 4996-5018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha W. Buckley ◽  
Rui M. Ponte ◽  
Gaël Forget ◽  
Patrick Heimbach

A recent state estimate covering the period 1992–2010 from the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) project is utilized to quantify the upper-ocean heat budget in the North Atlantic on monthly to interannual time scales (seasonal cycle removed). Three novel techniques are introduced: 1) the heat budget is integrated over the maximum climatological mixed layer depth (integral denoted as H), which gives results that are relevant for explaining SST while avoiding strong contributions from vertical diffusion and entrainment; 2) advective convergences are separated into Ekman and geostrophic parts, a technique that is successful away from ocean boundaries; and 3) air–sea heat fluxes and Ekman advection are combined into one local forcing term. The central results of our analysis are as follows: 1) In the interior of subtropical gyre, local forcing explains the majority of H variance on all time scales resolved by the ECCO estimate. 2) In the Gulf Stream region, low-frequency H anomalies are forced by geostrophic convergences and damped by air–sea heat fluxes. 3) In the interior of the subpolar gyre, diffusion and bolus transports play a leading order role in H variability, and these transports are correlated with low-frequency variability in wintertime mixed layer depths.


1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1015-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Moshonkin ◽  
N. A. Diansky

Abstract. Synoptic sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) were determined as a result of separation of time scales smaller than 183 days. The SSTAs were investigated using daily data of ocean weather station "C" (52.75°N; 35.5°W) from 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1980 (1827 days). There were 47 positive and 50 negative significant SSTAs (lifetime longer than 3 days, absolute value greater than 0.10 °C) with four main intervals of the lifetime repetitions: 1. 4–7 days (45% of all cases), 2. 9–13 days (20–25%), 3. 14–18 days (10–15%), and 4. 21–30 days (10–15%) and with a magnitude 1.5–2.0 °C. An upper layer balance model based on equations for temperature, salinity, mechanical energy (with advanced parametrization), state (density), and drift currents was used to simulate SSTA. The original method of modelling taking into account the mean observed temperature profiles proved to be very stable. The model SSTAs are in a good agreement with the observed amplitudes and phases of synoptic SSTAs during all 5 years. Surface heat flux anomalies are the main source of SSTAs. The influence of anomalous drift heat advection is about 30–50% of the SSTA, and the influence of salinity anomalies is about 10–25% and less. The influence of a large-scale ocean front was isolated only once in February-April 1978 during all 5 years. Synoptic SSTAs develop just in the upper half of the homogeneous layer at each winter. We suggest that there are two main causes of such active sublayer formation: 1. surface heat flux in the warm sectors of cyclones and 2. predominant heat transport by ocean currents from the south. All frequency functions of the ocean temperature synoptic response to heat and momentum surface fluxes are of integral character (red noise), though there is strong resonance with 20-days period of wind-driven horizontal heat advection with mixed layer temperature; there are some other peculiarities on the time scales from 5.5 to 13 days. Observed and modelled frequency functions seem to be in good agreement.


2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4425-4442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenfu Dong ◽  
Sarah T. Gille ◽  
Janet Sprintall

Abstract The mixed layer heat balance in the Southern Ocean is examined by combining remotely sensed measurements and in situ observations from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2006, coinciding with the period during which Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (EOS) (AMSR-E) sea surface temperature measurements are available. Temperature/salinity profiles from Argo floats are used to derive the mixed layer depth. All terms in the heat budget are estimated directly from available data. The domain-averaged terms of oceanic heat advection, entrainment, diffusion, and air–sea flux are largely consistent with the evolution of the mixed layer temperature. The mixed layer temperature undergoes a strong seasonal cycle, which is largely attributed to the air–sea heat fluxes. Entrainment plays a secondary role. Oceanic advection also experiences a seasonal cycle, although it is relatively weak. Most of the seasonal variations in the advection term come from the Ekman advection, in contrast with western boundary current regions where geostrophic advection controls the total advection. Substantial imbalances exist in the regional heat budgets, especially near the northern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The biggest contributor to the surface heat budget error is thought to be the air–sea heat fluxes, because only limited Southern Hemisphere data are available for the reanalysis products, and hence these fluxes have large uncertainties. In particular, the lack of in situ measurements during winter is of fundamental concern. Sensitivity tests suggest that a proper representation of the mixed layer depth is important to close the budget. Salinity influences the stratification in the Southern Ocean; temperature alone provides an imperfect estimate of mixed layer depth and, because of this, also an imperfect estimate of the temperature of water entrained into the mixed layer from below.


Author(s):  
Raya Muttarak ◽  
Wiraporn Pothisiri

In this paper we investigate how well residents of the Andaman coast in Phang Nga province, Thailand, are prepared for earthquakes and tsunami. It is hypothesized that formal education can promote disaster preparedness because education enhances individual cognitive and learning skills, as well as access to information. A survey was conducted of 557 households in the areas that received tsunami warnings following the Indian Ocean earthquakes on 11 April 2012. Interviews were carried out during the period of numerous aftershocks, which put residents in the region on high alert. The respondents were asked what emergency preparedness measures they had taken following the 11 April earthquakes. Using the partial proportional odds model, the paper investigates determinants of personal disaster preparedness measured as the number of preparedness actions taken. Controlling for village effects, we find that formal education, measured at the individual, household, and community levels, has a positive relationship with taking preparedness measures. For the survey group without past disaster experience, the education level of household members is positively related to disaster preparedness. The findings also show that disaster related training is most effective for individuals with high educational attainment. Furthermore, living in a community with a higher proportion of women who have at least a secondary education increases the likelihood of disaster preparedness. In conclusion, we found that formal education can increase disaster preparedness and reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 2451-2465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Du ◽  
Tangdong Qu ◽  
Gary Meyers

Abstract Using results from the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA), this study assesses the mixed layer heat budget to identify the mechanisms that control the interannual variation of sea surface temperature (SST) off Java and Sumatra. The analysis indicates that during the positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) years, cold SST anomalies are phase locked with the season cycle. They may exceed −3°C near the coast of Sumatra and extend as far westward as 80°E along the equator. The depth of the thermocline has a prominent influence on the generation and maintenance of SST anomalies. In the normal years, cooling by upwelling–entrainment is largely counterbalanced by warming due to horizontal advection. In the cooling episode of IOD events, coastal upwelling–entrainment is enhanced, and as a result of mixed layer shoaling, the barrier layer no longer exists, so that the effect of upwelling–entrainment can easily reach the surface mixed layer. Horizontal advection spreads the cold anomaly to the interior tropical Indian Ocean. Near the coast of Java, the northern branch of an anomalous anticyclonic circulation spreads the cold anomaly to the west near the equator. Both the anomalous advection and the enhanced, wind-driven upwelling generate the cold SST anomaly of the positive IOD. At the end of the cooling episode, the enhanced surface thermal forcing overbalances the cooling effect by upwelling/entrainment, and leads to a warming in SST off Java and Sumatra.


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