scholarly journals Mixed Layer Lateral Eddy Fluxes Mediated by Air–Sea Interaction

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Shuckburgh ◽  
Guillaume Maze ◽  
David Ferreira ◽  
John Marshall ◽  
Helen Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Effective Diffusivity ◽  
Eddy Diffusivity ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Eddy Diffusivities

Abstract The modulation of air–sea heat fluxes by geostrophic eddies due to the stirring of temperature at the sea surface is discussed and quantified. It is argued that the damping of eddy temperature variance by such air–sea fluxes enhances the dissipation of surface temperature fields. Depending on the time scale of damping relative to that of the eddying motions, surface eddy diffusivities can be significantly enhanced over interior values. The issues are explored and quantified in a controlled setting by driving a tracer field, a proxy for sea surface temperature, with surface altimetric observations in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) of the Southern Ocean. A new, tracer-based diagnostic of eddy diffusivity is introduced, which is related to the Nakamura effective diffusivity. Using this, the mixed layer lateral eddy diffusivities associated with (i) eddy stirring and small-scale mixing and (ii) surface damping by air–sea interaction is quantified. In the ACC, a diffusivity associated with surface damping of a comparable magnitude to that associated with eddy stirring (∼500 m2 s−1) is found. In frontal regions prevalent in the ACC, an augmentation of surface lateral eddy diffusivities of this magnitude is equivalent to an air–sea flux of 100 W m−2 acting over a mixed layer depth of 100 m, a very significant effect. Finally, the implications for other tracer fields such as salinity, dissolved gases, and chlorophyll are discussed. Different tracers are found to have surface eddy diffusivities that differ significantly in magnitude.

scholarly journals Interannual Variability of the Wind-Wave Regime Parameters in the Black Sea

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Lishaev ◽  
V. V. Knysh ◽  
G. K. Korotaev ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Upper Mixed Layer

Purpose. The investigation is aimed at increasing accuracy of the temperature field reconstruction in the Black Sea upper layer. For this purpose, satellite observations of the sea surface temperature and the three-dimensional fields of temperature (in the 50–500 m layer) and salinity (in the 2.5–500 m layer) pseudo-measurements, previously calculated by the altimetry and the Argo floats data, were jointly assimilated in the Marine Hydrophysical Institute model. Methods and Results. Assimilation of the sea surface temperature satellite observations is the most effective instrument in case the discrepancies between the sea surface and the model temperatures are extrapolated over the upper mixed layer depth up to its lower boundary. Having been analyzed, the temperature profiles resulted from the forecast calculation for 2012 and from the Argo float measurements made it possible to obtain a simple criterion (bound to the model grid) for determining the upper mixed layer depth, namely the horizon on which the temperature gradient was less or equal to ≤ 0.017 °C/m. Within the upper mixed layer depth, the nudging procedure of satellite temperature measurements with the selected relaxation factor and the measurement errors taken into account was used in the heat transfer equation. The temperature and salinity pseudo-measurements were assimilated in the model by the previously proposed adaptive statistics method. To test the results of the sea surface temperature assimilation, the Black Sea hydrophysical fields were reanalyzed for 2012. The winter-spring period (January – April, December) is characterized by the high upper mixed layer depths, well reproducible by the Pacanowski – Philander parameterization, and also by the low values (as compared to the measured ones) of the basin-averaged monthly mean square deviations of the simulated temperature fields. The increased mean square deviations in July – September are explained by absence of the upper mixed layer in the temperature profiles measured by the Argo floats that is not reproduced by the Pacanowski – Philander parameterization. Conclusions. The algorithm for assimilating the sea surface temperature together with the profiles of the temperature and salinity pseudo-measurements reconstructed from the altimetry data was realized. Application of the upper mixed layer depths estimated by the temperature vertical profiles made it possible to correct effectively the model temperature by the satellite-derived sea surface temperature, especially for a winter-spring period. It permitted to reconstruct the temperature fields in the sea upper layer for 2012 with acceptable accuracy.

scholarly journals Reconstructing the Black Sea Hydrophysical Fields Including Assimilation of the Sea Surface Temperature, and the Temperature and Salinity Pseudo-Measurements in the Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Lishaev ◽  
V. V. Knysh ◽  
G. K. Korotaev ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Upper Mixed Layer

Purpose. The investigation is aimed at increasing accuracy of the temperature field reconstruction in the Black Sea upper layer. For this purpose, satellite observations of the sea surface temperature and the three-dimensional fields of temperature (in the 50–500 m layer) and salinity (in the 2.5–500 m layer) pseudo-measurements, previously calculated by the altimetry and the Argo floats data, were jointly assimilated in the Marine Hydrophysical Institute model. Methods and Results. Assimilation of the sea surface temperature satellite observations is the most effective instrument in case the discrepancies between the sea surface and the model temperatures are extrapolated over the upper mixed layer depth up to its lower boundary. Having been analyzed, the temperature profiles resulted from the forecast calculation for 2012 and from the Argo float measurements made it possible to obtain a simple criterion (bound to the model grid) for determining the upper mixed layer depth, namely the horizon on which the temperature gradient was less or equal to 0.017°C/m. Within the upper mixed layer depth, the nudging procedure of satellite temperature measurements with the selected relaxation factor and the measurement errors taken into account was used in the heat transfer equation. The temperature and salinity pseudo-measurements were assimilated in the model by the previously proposed adaptive statistics method. To test the results of the sea surface temperature assimilation, the Black Sea hydrophysical fields were reanalyzed for 2012. The winterspring period (January – April, December) is characterized by the high upper mixed layer depths, well reproducible by the Pacanowsci – Philander parameterization, and also by the low values (as compared to the measured ones) of the basin-averaged monthly mean square deviations of the simulated temperature fields. The increased mean square deviations in July – September are explained by absence of the upper mixed layer in the temperature profiles measured by the Argo floats that is not reproduced by the Pacanowsci – Philander parameterization. Conclusions. The algorithm for assimilating the sea surface temperature together with the profiles of the temperature and salinity pseudo-measurements reconstructed from the altimetry data was realized. Application of the upper mixed layer depths estimated by the temperature vertical profiles made it possible to correct effectively the model temperature by the satellite-derived sea surface temperature, especially for a winter-spring period. It permitted to reconstruct the temperature fields in the sea upper layer for 2012 with acceptable accuracy.

scholarly journals Global sensitivity analysis of the Indian monsoon during the Pleistocene

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Araya-Melo ◽  
M. Crucifix ◽  
N. Bounceur
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Global Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Indian Monsoon ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Global Sensitivity

Abstract. The sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to the full spectrum of climatic conditions experienced during the Pleistocene is estimated using the climate model HadCM3. The methodology follows a global sensitivity analysis based on the emulator approach of Oakley and O'Hagan (2004) implemented following a three-step strategy: (1) development of an experiment plan, designed to efficiently sample a five-dimensional input space spanning Pleistocene astronomical configurations (three parameters), CO2 concentration and a Northern Hemisphere glaciation index; (2) development, calibration and validation of an emulator of HadCM3 in order to estimate the response of the Indian monsoon over the full input space spanned by the experiment design; and (3) estimation and interpreting of sensitivity diagnostics, including sensitivity measures, in order to synthesise the relative importance of input factors on monsoon dynamics, estimate the phase of the monsoon intensity response with respect to that of insolation, and detect potential non-linear phenomena. By focusing on surface temperature, precipitation, mixed-layer depth and sea-surface temperature over the monsoon region during the summer season (June-July-August-September), we show that precession controls the response of four variables: continental temperature in phase with June to July insolation, high glaciation favouring a late-phase response, sea-surface temperature in phase with May insolation, continental precipitation in phase with July insolation, and mixed-layer depth in antiphase with the latter. CO2 variations control temperature variance with an amplitude similar to that of precession. The effect of glaciation is dominated by the albedo forcing, and its effect on precipitation competes with that of precession. Obliquity is a secondary effect, negligible on most variables except sea-surface temperature. It is also shown that orography forcing reduces the glacial cooling, and even has a positive effect on precipitation. As regards the general methodology, it is shown that the emulator provides a powerful approach, not only to express model sensitivity but also to estimate internal variability and detect anomalous simulations.

Statistical features of the Oceanographic area off south-western Australia, obtained from Bathythermograph data

1986 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Statistical Features ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Leeuwin Current ◽  
South West

A statistical analysis has been made of 26 years of bathythermograph (BT) data to 1980 for the south-west Australian area bounded by 30-35�s. and 110-115�E., a region influenced by the Leeuwin Current. The data indicate that a surface mixed layer exists all year round, with average depth 55 m and standard deviation 37 m. All but 2% of BT casts show a mixed-layer depth (MLD) less than 150 m. MLD are deepest in mid-year, particularly from July to September. Sea surface temperatures (SST) are significantly related to temperature values down to 200 m depth, especially in mid-year, for both eastern and western parts of the area separated by 113�E. Correlations of MLD with SST are significant only in the western part, and then only from January to March, and April to June. Long-term horizontally averaged temperature fields are broadly related through the water column from the surface to 200 m. All results indicate that, especially in mid-year, SST fields are related to subsurface temperature fields, which may be representative of flow structure. Seasonal differences exist between the eastern and western areas, caused by the Leeuwin Current.

scholarly journals Microstructure observations during the spring 2011 STRATIPHYT-II cruise in the northeast Atlantic

Ocean Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jurado ◽  
H. A. Dijkstra ◽  
H. J. van der Woerd
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Northeast Atlantic ◽  
Eddy Diffusivities ◽  
Scale Temperature ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Layer Increase

Abstract. Small-scale temperature and conductivity variations have been measured in the upper 100 m of the northeast Atlantic during the STRATIPHYT-II cruise (Las Palmas–Reykjavik, 6 April–3 May 2011). The measurements were done at midday and comprised 2 to 15 vertical profiles at each station. The derived turbulent quantities show a transition between weakly-stratified (mixed layer depth, MLD, <100) and well-mixed waters (MLD > 100), which was centered at about 48° N. The temperature eddy diffusivities, KT, range from 10−5 to 100 m2 s−1 in the weakly-stratified stations, and range from 3 × 10−4 to 2 × 100 m2 s−1 in the well-mixed stations. The turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates, ε, range from 3 × 10−8 to 2 × 10−6 m2 s−3 south of the transition zone, and from 10−7 to 10−5 m2 s−3 north of the transition zone. The station-averaged KT values throughout the mixed layer increase exponentially with the wind speed. The station-averaged ε values throughout the mixed layer scale with the wind stress similarity variable with a scaling factor of about 1.8 in the wind-dominated stations (ε &amp;approx; 1.8 u&amp;star;3/(−κz)). The values of KT and ε are on average 10 times higher compared to the values measured at the same stations in July 2009. The results presented here constitute a unique data set giving large spatial coverage of upper ocean spring turbulence quantities.

scholarly journals Seasonal and inter-annual variability of the sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth in the southern Bay of Bengal

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
R. Ranith ◽  
L. Senthilnathan ◽  
M. Machendiranathan ◽  
T. Thangaradjou ◽  
A. Saravanakumar
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Bay Of Bengal ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
South West Monsoon

Argo float data supplemented with satellite measurements was used to study the seasonal and inter-annual variation in wind speed, sea surface temperature (SST) and mixed layer depth (MLD) of the southern Bay of Bengal from 2003 through 2010. Due to persistence of wind, clear sky and high insolation an increase in SST by about 2°C is evident during summer months (March-May) and is followed by shallowed MLD with a minimum depth of 9.3 m during summer 2004. MLD reached the maximum depth during monsoon season (November-December) and often extends to post monsoon (February) owing to strong monsoon wind, cloudy sky and SST plummeted by 3°C. During the inter-monsoon period (August-October) the MLD shallowed and maintained a depth of 20–30 m all through the study period. High wind accompanied with moderate temperature (SST) due to the south west monsoon leads to decreased MLD with an average depth of 44 m in July. Analysis of wind speed, SST and MLD suggested that out of various meteorological parameters wind speed and induced mixing are highly influential in MLD formation. Reduced occurrence and amplitude of MLD deepening noticed in recent years can be attributed to the evident climate change scenarios. Large scale upper ocean variability observed from the present study has innumerable antagonistic consequences on the marine ecosystem which is evident from various events of seagrass burns and coral bleaching which have occurred in the last decade.

On the Ocean Mixed Layer influence on the genesis of Mediterranean Tropical-Like cyclones

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Ricchi ◽  
Davide Bonaldo ◽  
Mario Marcello Miglietta ◽  
Sandro Carniel
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Ocean Mixed Layer

&lt;p&gt;The Mediterranean basin is the formation site of a vast number and type of cyclones. Among these, we can occasionally identify intense vortices showing tropical characteristics, called Tropical-Like Cyclones (TLC) or MEDIcanes (Mediterranean Hurricane). Their development has been studied in several case studies, showing the influence of synoptic scale upper level forcings and mesoscale features, such as the sea surface temperature and the characteristics of the air masses on the formation area. The importance of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) consists in modulating the intense latent and sensible heat fluxes, which control the development of the TLC.&amp;#160;For tropical cyclones, one of the most studied factors in recent years is the ocean heat content in the formation basin of these storms. We plan here to extend this analysis to TLC. Besides innovative studies with coupled atmosphere-waves-ocean numerical models, a simpler approach for investigating the sole effect of the ocean heat content consists of adopting a simplified ocean (1-Dimensional) description by varying the local characteristics of the Ocean Mixed Layer (OML).&amp;#160;In this work we use the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting system) model, in standalone (atmospheric) mode, with 3 km grid spacing, forced with GFS-GDAL (0.25&amp;#176;x0.25&amp;#176; horizontal resolution) and SST initialization provided by the MFS-CMEMs Copernicus dataset. Three case studies of TLC are examined here, namely ROLF (06-09/11/2011), ILONA (19-21/01/2014) and NUMA (11-20/11/2017). The ocean is simulated with an OML approach, with SST updated at each iteration as a function of the atmospheric heat fluxes and with an average mixed layer deph (MDL) provided by the MFS-CMEMS dataset. For each TLC studied, the MDL is modified by increasing and decreasing its depth by 50% and increasing and decreasing its lapse rate by 50%. The results show how the structure of the MDL influences not only the intensity of the cyclone but also the structure and precipitation both in terms of quantity and location. These outcomes suggest that, as for hurricanes, also for MEDICANES the heat content of the mass of seawater plays a fundamental role in their intensification, suggesting further studies also in a climate change perspective.&lt;/p&gt;

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