Mesoscale Dynamics and Eddy Heat Transport in the Japan/East Sea from 1990 to 2010: A Model-Based Analysis

The driving mechanisms of mesoscale processes and associated heat transport in the Japan/East Sea (JES) from 1990 to 2010 were examined using eddy-resolving ocean model simulations. The simulated circulation showed correctly reproduced JES major basin-scale currents and mesoscale dynamics features. We show that mesoscale eddies can deepen isotherms/isohalines up to several hundred meters and transport warm and low salinity waters along the western and eastern JES boundaries. The analysis of eddy kinetic energy (EKE) showed that the mesoscale dynamics reaches a maximum intensity in the upper 300 m layer. Throughout the year, the EKE maximum is observed in the southeastern JES, and a pronounced seasonal variability is observed in the southwestern and northwestern JES. The comparison of the EKE budget components confirmed that various mechanisms can be responsible for the generation of mesoscale dynamics during the year. From winter to spring, the baroclinic instability of basin-scale currents is the leading mechanism of the JES mesoscale dynamics’ generation. In summer, the leading role in the generation of the mesoscale dynamics is played by the barotropic instability of basin-scale currents, which are responsible for the emergence of mesoscale eddies, and in autumn, the leading role is played by instabilities and the eddy wind work. We show that the meridional heat transport (MHT) is mainly polewards. Furthermore, we reveal two paths of eddy heat transport across the Subpolar Front: along the western and eastern (along 138∘ E) JES boundaries. Near the Tsugaru Strait, we describe the detected intensive westward eddy heat transport reaching its maximum in the first half of the year and decreasing to the minimum by summer.

Interaction between upper-ocean submesoscale currents and convective turbulence

The interaction between upper-ocean submesoscale fronts evolving with coherent features, such as vortex filaments and eddies, and finescale convective turbulence generated by surface cooling of varying magnitude is investigated. While convection is energized by gravitational instability, predominantly at the finescale (FS), which feeds off the potential energy that is input through cooling, the submesoscale (SMS) is energized at larger scales by the release of available potential energy stored in the front. Here, we decompose the flow into FS and SMS fields explicitly to investigate the energy pathways and the strong interaction between them. Overall, the SMS is energized due to surface cooling. The frontogenetic tendency at the submesoscale increases, which counters the enhanced horizontal diffusion by convection-induced turbulence. Downwelling/upwelling strengthens, and the peak SMS vertical buoyancy flux increases as surface cooling is increased. Furthermore, the production of FS energy by SMS velocity gradients is significant, up to half of the production by convection. Examination of potential vorticity reveals that surface cooling promotes higher levels of secondary symmetric instability, which coexists with the persistent baroclinic instability.

Growing Pacific Linkage with the Interannual Variability of North Atlantic Explosive Cyclogenesis

Explosive cyclones (ECs), defined as developing extratropical cyclones that experience pressure drops of at least 24 hPa in 24 hours, are impactful weather events which occur along highly populated coastal regions in the eastern United States. These storms occur due to a combination of atmospheric and surface processes, such as jet stream intensification and latent heat release at the ocean surface. Even though previous literature has elucidated the role of these processes in EC formation, the sources of interannual variability that impact seasonal EC frequency are not well known. To analyze the sources of interannual variability, we track cases of ECs and dissect them into two spatial groups: those that formed near the east coast of North America (coastal) and those in the North Central Atlantic (high latitude). The frequency of high-latitude ECs is strongly correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation, a well-known feature, whereas coastal EC frequency exhibits a growing relationship with an atmospheric wave-train emanating from the North Pacific in the last 30 years. This wave-train pattern of alternating high-and-low pressure resulted in resulted in heightened upper-level divergence and baroclinic instability along the east coast of North America. Using a coupled model experiment, we show that the tropical Pacific Ocean is the main driver of this atmospheric wave train and the subsequent enhancement seasonal baroclinic instability in the North Atlantic.

A four-dimensional survey of the Almeria-Oran front by underwater gliders: Tracers and circulation

A four-dimensional survey by a fleet of 7 underwater gliders was used to identify pathways of subduction at the Almeria-Oran front in the western Mediterranean Sea. The combined glider fleet covered nearly 9000 km over ground while doing over 2500 dives to as deep as 700 m. The gliders had sensors to measure temperature, salinity, velocity, chlorophyll fluorescence and acoustic backscatter. Data from the gliders were analyzed through objective maps that were functions of across-front distance, along-front distance, and time on vertical levels separated by 10 m. Geostrophic velocity was inferred using a variational approach, and the quasigeostrophic omega equation was solved for vertical and ageostrophic horizontal velocities. Peak downward vertical velocities were near 25 m day-1 in an event that propagated in the direction of the frontal jet. An examination of an isopycnal surface that outcropped as the front formed showed consistency between the movement of the tracers and the inferred vertical velocity. The vertical velocity tended to be downward on the dense side of the front and upward on the light side so as to flatten the front in the manner of a baroclinic instability. The resulting heat flux approached 80 W m-2 near 100 m depth with a structure that would cause restratification of the front. One glider was used to track an isotherm over a day for a direct measure of vertical velocity as large as 50 m day-1, with a net downward displacement of 15 m over the day.

A Comparison of Initial Developments Between Explosive and Ordinary Mid-latitude Cyclones Off the East Asian Coast in Winter

Explosive cyclones (ECs) off the East Asian coast post challenges in forecasting and significant threats to human life and property. In searching for the key features that distinguish explosive cyclones (ECs) from ordinary extratropical cyclones (OCs), this study presents detailed comparison of winter ECs versus OCs in the perspective of potential vorticity (PV) using 10 years of reanalysis data with high temporal and spatial resolutions. ECs feature greater low-level baroclinity and stronger PV than OCs. The decomposition of local PV tendency shows the important contribution of cold advection (with correlation coefficient of 0.8) in the initial development of ECs. A stronger cold advection for ECs increases upstream static stability, leading to intrusion of higher PV along the steeper isentropic surfaces. The importance of cold advection is further proved by numerical experiments with the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model on a typical winter EC. The weakening of cold advection within low-troposphere in sensitivity experiment can significantly decrease PV and stop the cyclone from explosive deepening. In addition to the consensus that diabatic processes play important roles in the intensification of explosive cyclogenesis, this study emphasizes the importance of horizontal cold advection (which is also associated with baroclinic instability) in the preconditioning PV for explosive cyclogenesis.

Energy Spectra of Atmospheric Turbulence for Calculating Cn2 Parameter. I. Maidanak and Suffa Observatories in Uzbekistan

Knowledge of the turbulence spectra is of interest for describing atmospheric conditions as applied to astronomical observations. This article discusses the deformations of the turbulence spectra with heights in a wide range of scales at the sites of the Maidanak and Suffa observatories. It is shown that the energy of baroclinic instability is high at the sites of these observatories and should be taken into account in the calculations of the refractive index structure constant Cn2.

Equilibration of baroclinic instability in westward flows

We explore the dynamics of baroclinic instability in westward flows using an asymptotic weakly nonlinear model. The proposed theory is based on the multilayer quasi-geostrophic framework, which is reduced to a system governed by a single nonlinear prognostic equation for the upper layer. The dynamics of deeper layers are represented by linear diagnostic relations. A major role in the statistical equilibration of baroclinic instability is played by the latent zonally elongated modes. These structures form spontaneously in baroclinically unstable systems and effectively suppress the amplification of primary unstable modes. Special attention is given to the effects of bottom friction, which is shown to control both linear and nonlinear properties of baroclinic instability. The reduced-dynamics model is validated by a series of numerical simulations.

Development of a Monsoon Depression and Its Interaction with the Large-Scale Background: A Case Study

Structure and time evolution of the large-scale background and an embedded synoptic-scale monsoon depression and their interactions are studied. The depression formation is preceded by a cyclonic circulation around 400 hPa. The Fourier-based scale separation technique is used to isolate large (wavenumbers 0–8) and synoptic-scale (wavenumbers 12–60). The wavelength and depression center is determined objectively. The synoptic-scale depression has an average longitudinal wavelength of around 1900 km and a north–south size of 1100 km; it is most intense with a vorticity of 20.5 × 10 −5 s −1 at 900 hPa. The strongest cold core of −3.0°C below 850 hPa and the above warm core of around 2.0°C are evident. The depression is tilted southwestward in the midtroposphere with no significant vertical tilt in the lower troposphere. The mean maximum intensity and upward motion over the life cycle of depression are in close agreement with the composite values. A strong cyclonic shear zone is developed in the midtroposphere preceding the depression. The necessary condition for barotropic (baroclinic) instability is satisfied in the midtroposphere (boundary layer). Strong northward transport of momentum by the depression against the southward shear is found. The strong growth of the MD in the lower troposphere is due to downward transfer of excess energy gained in the midtroposphere from the barotropic energy conversion and east–west direct thermal circulation as the vertical energy flux. The baroclinic interaction contributes to the maintenance of the cold core in the lower troposphere. The diabatic heating rate is computed and its role in the genesis and growth of MD is investigated.