scholarly journals Mixed layer depth in winter convection in the Lofoten Basin in the Norwegian Sea and assessment methods

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-83
Author(s):  
V.S. Travkin ◽  
T.V. Belonenko
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
The Other ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Norwegian Sea ◽  
Monthly Average ◽  
Winter Convection ◽  
Empirical Approaches ◽  
Maximum Development

We calculate the depth of winter convection in the Lofoten Basin in the Norwegian Sea using the oceanic reanalysis GLORYS12V1 data for the period 1993 to 2018. Two independent methods are used to estimate the depth of the mixed layer depth (MLD). We call the first method as the Kara method and the second one as the Montegut method. We build the monthly average maps of the MLD for the period from December to April. The maximum values of the MLD are observed in the area of the Lofoten Vortex. The MLD is maximal in March reaching 400-500 m, and 200 to 400 m in the other months. The MLD tends to increase in the northern and northwestern parts of the study area. We show the estimates of the MLD obtained by the Montegut method to be underestimated in comparison with the estimates by the Kara method. We estimate coefficients of the linear trend for monthly averaged MLD values from December to April for the period 1993 to 2018. We demonstrate in the interannual variability that the winter convection decreases in December, January, and February at the end of the study period, but it increases in March and April. This means a shift in the periods of maximum development of winter convection to a later date. This shift may be due to the processes of global warming. There is a significant intra-monthly variability when the values of the MLD can differ by 1.5-2 times during a month. Since the methods by Kara and Montegut are based both on empirical criteria, the estimates of MLD in the Lofoten Basin differ from each other. However, the empirical approaches for MLD estimates make it impossible to determine the advantages of one method relative to another

Interannual variability of the Tropical Indian Ocean mixed layer depth

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 743-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Keerthi ◽  
M. Lengaigne ◽  
J. Vialard ◽  
C. de Boyer Montégut ◽  
P. M. Muraleedharan
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Tropical Indian Ocean ◽  
Ocean Mixed Layer ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Ocean Mixed Layer Depth

scholarly journals Summertime increases in upper-ocean stratification and mixed-layer depth

Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 591 (7851) ◽  
pp. 592-598
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Sallée ◽  
Violaine Pellichero ◽  
Camille Akhoudas ◽  
Etienne Pauthenet ◽  
Lucie Vignes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Upper Ocean ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Ocean Stratification

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.

scholarly journals An alternative method for correcting fluorescence quenching

Ocean Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Biermann ◽  
C. Guinet ◽  
M. Bester ◽  
A. Brierley ◽  
L. Boehme
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Fluorescence Emission ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Light Level ◽  
High Light Intensity ◽  
Photochemical Quenching ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Non Photochemical Quenching

Abstract. Under high light intensity, phytoplankton protect their photosystems from bleaching through non-photochemical quenching processes. The consequence of this is suppression of fluorescence emission, which must be corrected when measuring in situ yield with fluorometers. We present data from the Southern Ocean, collected over five austral summers by 19 southern elephant seals tagged with fluorometers. Conventionally, fluorescence data collected during the day (quenched) were corrected using the limit of the mixed layer, assuming that phytoplankton are uniformly mixed from the surface to this depth. However, distinct deep fluorescence maxima were measured in approximately 30% of the night (unquenched) data. To account for the evidence that chlorophyll is not uniformly mixed in the upper layer, we propose correcting from the limit of the euphotic zone, defined as the depth at which photosynthetically available radiation is ~ 1% of the surface value. Mixed layer depth exceeded euphotic depth over 80% of the time. Under these conditions, quenching was corrected from the depth of the remotely derived euphotic zone Zeu, and compared with fluorescence corrected from the depth of the density-derived mixed layer. Deep fluorescence maxima were evident in only 10% of the day data when correcting from mixed layer depth. This was doubled to 21% when correcting from Zeu, more closely matching the unquenched (night) data. Furthermore, correcting from Zeu served to conserve non-uniform chlorophyll features found between the 1% light level and mixed layer depth.

scholarly journals Numerical investigation of the Arctic ice-ocean boundary layer; implications for air-sea gas fluxes

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bigdeli ◽  
B. Loose ◽  
S. T. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Layer Depth ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Resolution Model ◽  
Simplifying Assumptions ◽  
Vertical Spacing

Abstract. In ice-covered regions it can be challenging to determine air-sea exchange – for heat and momentum, but also for gases like carbon dioxide and methane. The harsh environment and relative data scarcity make it difficult to characterize even the physical properties of the ocean surface. Here, we seek a mechanistic interpretation for the rate of air-sea gas exchange (k) derived from radon-deficits. These require an estimate of the water column history extending 30 days prior to sampling. We used coarse resolution (36 km) regional configuration of the MITgcm with fine near surface vertical spacing (2 m) to evaluate the capability of the model to reproduce conditions prior to sampling. The model is used to estimate sea-ice velocity, concentration and mixed-layer depth experienced by the water column. We then compared the model results to existing field data including satellite, moorings and Ice-tethered profilers. We found that model-derived sea-ice coverage is 88 to 98 % accurate averaged over Beaufort Gyre, sea-ice velocities have 78 % correlation which resulted in 2 km/day error in 30 day trajectory of sea-ice. The model demonstrated the capacity to capture the broad trends in the mixed layer although with a bias and model water velocities showed only 29 % correlation with actual data. Overall, we find the course resolution model to be an inadequate surrogate for sparse data, however the simulation results are a slight improvement over several of the simplifying assumptions that are often made when surface ocean geochemistry, including the use of a constant mixed layer depth and a velocity profile that is purely wind-driven.

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