scholarly journals Time Scales of Southern Ocean Eddy Equilibration

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 2785-2805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anirban Sinha ◽  
Ryan P. Abernathey
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Channel Model ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Amplitude Response ◽  
Relative Conversion

AbstractStratification in the Southern Ocean is determined primarily by a competition between westerly wind-driven upwelling and baroclinic eddy transport. This study investigates the time scales of equilibration of the Southern Ocean in response to changing winds through an idealized channel model. An analytical framework describing the energetic pathways between wind input, available potential energy (APE), eddy kinetic energy (EKE), and dissipation provides a simple theory of the phase and amplitude response to oscillating wind stress. The transient ocean response to variable winds lies between the two limits of Ekman response (high frequency), characterized by the isopycnal slope responding directly to wind stress, and “eddy saturation” (low frequency), wherein a large fraction of the anomalous wind work goes into mesoscale eddies. The crossover time scale is the time scale of meridional eddy diffusive transport across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) front. For wind variability with a period of 3 months (high-frequency forcing), the relative conversion of wind work to APE/EKE is 11, while for a period of 16 years (low-frequency forcing), the relative conversion to APE/EKE reduces to 3. The system’s frequency response is characterized by a complex transfer function. Both the phase and amplitude response of EKE and APE predicted by the linear analytic framework are verified using multiple ensemble experiments in an eddy-resolving (4-km horizontal resolution) isopycnal coordinate model. The results from the numerical experiments show agreement with the linear theory and can be used to explain certain features observed in previous modeling studies and observations.

Adjustment of the Southern Ocean to Wind Forcing on Synoptic Time Scales

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2076-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilbert Weijer ◽  
Sarah T. Gille
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Wind Forcing ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Free Mode ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study addresses the response of the Southern Ocean to high-frequency wind forcing, focusing on the impact of several barotropic modes on the circumpolar transport. A suite of experiments is performed with an unstratified model of the Southern Ocean, forced with a stochastic wind stress that contains a large range of frequencies with synoptic time scales. The Southern Ocean adjustment displays a different character for frequencies below and above 0.2 cpd. The low-frequency range is dominated by an “almost-free-mode” response in the region where contours of f /H are obstructed by only a few bathymetric features; the truly free mode only plays a minor role. Topographic form stress, rather than friction, is the dominant decay mechanism of the Southern Mode. It leads to a spindown time scale on the order of 3 days. For the high-frequency range, the circumpolar transport is dominated by the resonant excitation of oscillatory modes. The “active” response of the ocean leads to strong changes and even discontinuities in the phase relation between transport and wind stress.

scholarly journals Stochastic Subgrid-Scale Ocean Mixing: Impacts on Low-Frequency Variability

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (13) ◽  
pp. 4997-5019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Juricke ◽  
Tim N. Palmer ◽  
Laure Zanna
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Subgrid Scale ◽  
Low Frequency Variability ◽  
Ocean Models

In global ocean models, the representation of small-scale, high-frequency processes considerably influences the large-scale oceanic circulation and its low-frequency variability. This study investigates the impact of stochastic perturbation schemes based on three different subgrid-scale parameterizations in multidecadal ocean-only simulations with the ocean model NEMO at 1° resolution. The three parameterizations are an enhanced vertical diffusion scheme for unstable stratification, the Gent–McWilliams (GM) scheme, and a turbulent kinetic energy mixing scheme, all commonly used in state-of-the-art ocean models. The focus here is on changes in interannual variability caused by the comparatively high-frequency stochastic perturbations with subseasonal decorrelation time scales. These perturbations lead to significant improvements in the representation of low-frequency variability in the ocean, with the stochastic GM scheme showing the strongest impact. Interannual variability of the Southern Ocean eddy and Eulerian streamfunctions is increased by an order of magnitude and by 20%, respectively. Interannual sea surface height variability is increased by about 20%–25% as well, especially in the Southern Ocean and in the Kuroshio region, consistent with a strong underestimation of interannual variability in the model when compared to reanalysis and altimetry observations. These results suggest that enhancing subgrid-scale variability in ocean models can improve model variability and potentially its response to forcing on much longer time scales, while also providing an estimate of model uncertainty.

scholarly journals Locally and Remotely Forced Subtropical AMOC Variability: A Matter of Time Scales

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 5155-5172
Author(s):  
Quentin Jamet ◽  
William K. Dewar ◽  
Nicolas Wienders ◽  
Bruno Deremble ◽  
Sally Close ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
Open Boundary ◽  
Overturning Circulation ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Meridional Overturning

AbstractMechanisms driving the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) variability at low frequency are of central interest for accurate climate predictions. Although the subpolar gyre region has been identified as a preferred place for generating climate time-scale signals, their southward propagation remains under consideration, complicating the interpretation of the observed time series provided by the Rapid Climate Change–Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array–Western Boundary Time Series (RAPID–MOCHA–WBTS) program. In this study, we aim at disentangling the respective contribution of the local atmospheric forcing from signals of remote origin for the subtropical low-frequency AMOC variability. We analyze for this a set of four ensembles of a regional (20°S–55°N), eddy-resolving (1/12°) North Atlantic oceanic configuration, where surface forcing and open boundary conditions are alternatively permuted from fully varying (realistic) to yearly repeating signals. Their analysis reveals the predominance of local, atmospherically forced signal at interannual time scales (2–10 years), whereas signals imposed by the boundaries are responsible for the decadal (10–30 years) part of the spectrum. Due to this marked time-scale separation, we show that, although the intergyre region exhibits peculiarities, most of the subtropical AMOC variability can be understood as a linear superposition of these two signals. Finally, we find that the decadal-scale, boundary-forced AMOC variability has both northern and southern origins, although the former dominates over the latter, including at the site of the RAPID array (26.5°N).

scholarly journals Southern Ocean Wind Stress in CMIP5 Models: Role of Wind Fluctuations

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 1209-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Lin ◽  
Xiaoming Zhai ◽  
Zhaomin Wang ◽  
David R. Munday
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Cmip5 Models ◽  
Coupled Models ◽  
Surface Wind Stress ◽  
Stress Changes ◽  
The Mean

AbstractThe Southern Ocean (SO) surface wind stress is a major atmospheric forcing for driving the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the global overturning circulation. Here the effects of wind fluctuations at different time scales on SO wind stress in 18 models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) are investigated. It is found that including wind fluctuations, especially on time scales associated with synoptic storms, in the stress calculation strongly enhances the mean strength, modulates the seasonal cycle, and significantly amplifies the trends of SO wind stress. In 11 out of the 18 CMIP5 models, the SO wind stress has strengthened significantly over the period of 1960–2005. Among them, the strengthening trend of SO wind stress in one CMIP5 model is due to the increase in the intensity of wind fluctuations, while in all the other 10 models the strengthening trend is due to the increasing strength of the mean westerly wind. These discrepancies in SO wind stress trend in CMIP5 models may explain some of the diverging behaviors in the model-simulated SO circulation. Our results suggest that to reduce the uncertainty in SO responses to wind stress changes in the coupled models, both the mean wind and wind fluctuations need to be better simulated.

Stratification in a small lagoon in the Great Barrier Reef

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Andrews ◽  
WC Dunlap ◽  
NF Bellamy
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Bottom Water ◽  
Reef Flat ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Wind Vector ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Lunar Synchronization

Temperatures were measured in a small lagoon in the windward reef flat of Davies Reef in the central Great Barrier Reef and examined on three time scales to gain three perspectives on thermal stratification and the trapping of bottom water. Profiling for stratification and dye revealed layering where bottom water was trapped and released by the successive capping and uncapping of the lagoon by a diurnal thermocline. A 1-month monitoring array revealed a solar synchronization, with the temperature of reef-flat water exceeding temperatures of lagoon water by up to 1 5�C within 1 h of midday, and lagoon stratification lagging this by 1 h. There was also a lunar synchronization with mixing proceeding during nocturnal rising tides. Lagoon surface and bottom temperatures were also monitored for 11 months. The amplitude of the diurnal stratification showed no coherence either with the amplitude of the tide (marked spring-neap tides) or with scalar wind stress. The low frequency amplitude of the diurnal oscillation was coherent with the longshore wind vector at periods near 3 6 days and in a band approximately from 10 to 40 days. Daily stratification increased when winds were poleward and decreased when winds were equatonvard. Events of flushing were separated on average by 9 h, but the most frequently observed separation was 5 h and only 10% of separations exceeded 18 h during the 11 months.

Investigating Thunderstorm HF/VHF Radio Bursts with Weak Lower Frequency Radiation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningyu Liu ◽  
Joseph Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Very High Frequency ◽  
Lightning Initiation ◽  
Study Support ◽  
Volcanic Lightning ◽  
Frequency Radiation

<p>While the spectrum of lightning electromagnetic radiation is known to peak around 5-10 kHz in the very low frequency (VLF) range, intense high frequency/very high frequency (HF/VHF) radiation can be produced by various lightning related processes. In fact, thunderstorm narrow bipolar events (NBEs), which are capable of initiating lightning, are the most powerful HF/VHF sources in nature on Earth. But even for NBEs, the spectral intensity in HF/VHF is still many orders of magnitude weaker than that of lower frequencies (Liu et al., JGR, 124, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD030439, 2019). HF/VHF bursts with weak VLF signals, however, can also be produced by thunderstorms. These bursts may be related to the thunderstorm precursor events noted by Rison et al. (Nat. Commun., 7, 10721, 2016) and are also found to precede a large fraction of lightning initiation (Lyu et al., JGR, 124, 2994, 2019). They are also known as continual radio frequency (CRF) radiation associated with volcanic lightning (Behnke et. al., JGR, 123, 4157, 2018).</p><p> </p><p>In this talk, we report a theoretical and modeling study to investigate a physical mechanism for production of those HF/VHF bursts. The study is built on the theory developed recently concerning the radio emissions from an ensemble of streamers (Liu et al., 2019). We find an ensemble of streamer discharges that develop in random directions can produce HF/VHF radiation with intensity comparable to those all developing in a single direction, but the VLF intensity is many orders of magnitude weaker. The results of our study support the conclusions of Behnke et. al (2018) that CRF is produced in the absence of large-scale electric field, it results in insignificant charge transfer, and it is caused by streamers. In the context of the HF/VHF bursts preceding lightning initiation (Lyu et. al, 2019), our results imply that highly localized strong field regions exist in thunderstorms and streamers take place in those regions, which somehow precondition the medium for lightning initiation.</p>

scholarly journals Decadal Response of Global Circulation to Southern Ocean Zonal Wind Stress Perturbation

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1888-1904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry A. Klinger ◽  
Carlos Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
Volume Transport ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Return Flow ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
Wind Variability

Abstract A substantial component of North Atlantic Deep Water formation may be driven by westerly wind stress over the Southern Ocean. Variability of this wind stress on decadal time scales may lead to circulation variability far from the forcing region. The Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM), a numerical ocean model, is used to investigate the spatial patterns and the time scales associated with such wind variability. The evolution of circulation and density anomalies is observed by comparing one 80-yr simulation, forced in part by relatively strong Southern Hemisphere westerlies, with a simulation driven by climatological wind. The volume transport anomaly takes about 10 yr to reach near-full strength in the entire Southern Hemisphere; however, in the Northern Hemisphere, it grows for the duration of the run. The Southern Hemisphere Indo-Pacific volume transport anomaly is about twice the strength of that found in the Atlantic. In the thermocline, water exits the southern westerlies belt in a broad flow that feeds a western boundary current (WBC) in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These WBCs in turn feed an Indonesian Throughflow from the Pacific and cyclonic gyres in the far north, which are broadly consistent with the Stommel–Arons theory. The deep return flow in each hemisphere is strongly affected by deep-sea ridges, which leads to a number of midocean “WBCs.” The wind perturbation causes isopycnals to sink over most of the basin. After about 20 yr, this sinking is very roughly uniform with latitude, though it varies by basin.

scholarly journals Moisture and the Persistence of Annular Modes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Lutsko ◽  
Momme C. Hell
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Channel Model ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Atmospheric Models ◽  
Annular Mode ◽  
Annular Modes ◽  
Leading Term ◽  
Leading Mode ◽  
Geometric Effects

AbstractAnnular modes are the leading mode of variability in extratropical atmospheres, and a key source of predictability at mid-latitudes. Previous studies of annular modes have primarily used dry atmospheric models, so that moisture’s role in annular mode dynamics is still unclear. In this study, a moist two-layer quasi-geostrophic channel model is used to study the effects of moisture on annular mode persistence. Using a channel model allows moisture’s direct effects to be studied, rather than changes in persistence due to geometric effects associated with shifts in jet latitude on the sphere. Simulations are performed in which the strength of latent heat release is varied, to investigate how annular mode persistence responds as precipitation becomes a leading term in the thermodynamic budget. At short lags (<20 model days ≈ 4 Earth days), moisture increases annular mode persistence, reflecting weaker eddy activity that is less effective at disrupting zonal-mean wind anomalies. Comparisons to dry simulations with weaker mean flows demonstrate that moisture is particularly effective at damping high frequency eddies, further enhancing short lag persistence. At long lags (>20 model days), moisture weakly increases persistence, though it decreases the amplitudes of low frequency annular mode anomalies. In the most realistic simulation, the greater short-lag persistence increases the e-folding time of the zonal index by 21 model days (≈4 Earth days). Moisture also causes a transition to propagating variability, though this does not seem to affect the leading mode’s persistence.

scholarly journals Dissipation of the energy imparted by mid-latitude storms in the Southern Ocean

Ocean Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Jouanno ◽  
Xavier Capet ◽  
Gurvan Madec ◽  
Guillaume Roullet ◽  
Patrice Klein
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Wind Stress ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
Ocean Modeling ◽  
Ocean Dynamics ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Overturning Circulation

Abstract. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of the Southern Ocean storms on interior mixing and meridional overturning circulation. A periodic and idealized numerical model has been designed to represent the key physical processes of a zonal portion of the Southern Ocean located between 70 and 40° S. It incorporates physical ingredients deemed essential for Southern Ocean functioning: rough topography, seasonally varying air–sea fluxes, and high-latitude storms with analytical form. The forcing strategy ensures that the time mean wind stress is the same between the different simulations, so the effect of the storms on the mean wind stress and resulting impacts on the Southern Ocean dynamics are not considered in this study. Level and distribution of mixing attributable to high-frequency winds are quantified and compared to those generated by eddy–topography interactions and dissipation of the balanced flow. Results suggest that (1) the synoptic atmospheric variability alone can generate the levels of mid-depth dissipation frequently observed in the Southern Ocean (10−10–10−9 W kg−1) and (2) the storms strengthen the overturning, primarily through enhanced mixing in the upper 300 m, whereas deeper mixing has a minor effect. The sensitivity of the results to horizontal resolution (20, 5, 2 and 1 km), vertical resolution and numerical choices is evaluated. Challenging issues concerning how numerical models are able to represent interior mixing forced by high-frequency winds are exposed and discussed, particularly in the context of the overturning circulation. Overall, submesoscale-permitting ocean modeling exhibits important delicacies owing to a lack of convergence of key components of its energetics even when reaching Δx =  1 km.

scholarly journals The Dynamics of Phase Locking

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 2952-2964 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Krishnamurti ◽  
D. R. Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Phase Locking ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Transfer Energy ◽  
Energy Exchanges ◽  
Boundary Layer Dynamics

Abstract Many low-frequency phenomena such as the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) or the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibit rapid growth where they appear to be undergoing a phase locking with other time scales such as the annual cycle. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an example of phase locking of two different time scales. In this instance it is shown that during such epochs of phase locking a large increase in nonlinear energy exchange occurs from one time scale to the other. This paper utilizes the ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) datasets for the year 2001 to examine this problem. This study is a sequel to a recent modeling study where the maintenance of the MJO time scale was examined from scale interactions, especially with synoptic-scale waves with ∼2–7 day periods. It was shown that a pair of waves on the synoptic time scale can satisfy certain selection rules and undergo triad interactions (kinetic energy to kinetic energy exchanges) and transfer energy. This present study illustrates the fact that during epochs of phase locking such nonlinear interactions can become very large, thus portraying the importance of phase locking. These explosive exchanges are shown from two perspectives: an approach based on kinetic energy exchanges in the frequency domain and another that invokes the boundary layer dynamics in the frequency domain.

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