基于HYCOM的南海中尺度涡数值模拟

结合AVISO(Archiving Validation and Interpolation of Satellite Oceanographic Data)高度计资料,利用改进的NERSCHYCOM(Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center-Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model)大洋环流模式,对南海中尺度涡进行数值模拟研究,主要包括中尺度涡的三维结构、南海EKE(Eddy Kinetic Energy,涡动动能)的垂向变化、黑潮中尺度涡的脱落以及涡旋近岸时的结构变化等。模式再现了2007年2月-3月菲律宾西侧海域的一次暖涡过程,探究了其生命期中各阶段的特征物理量的变化,对其成熟时期的涡旋结构研究表明,中尺度涡的结构呈现不对称性,涡旋两侧的流场空间范围和流场强度均不相同,涡旋的半径和中心位置随深度不断变化,并且由涡旋作用产生的升降流的中心与涡旋自身中心并不重合,二者之间有一定距离。初步探索EKE的垂向分布情况,认为南海年平均EKE在垂向变化上呈现三段式,主要部分分布在300m以浅深度,但同时垂向又能达到海洋深层。分析了一次黑潮中尺度涡脱落的模式模拟个例,推测黑潮中尺度涡脱落原因:黑潮流径西移、外海中尺度涡对黑潮的强迫、地形作用,并且结果表明从黑潮脱落的中尺度涡可以携带大量高温高盐水体进入南海,对南海的温盐性质产生很大的影响。初步探索涡旋近岸时的结构变化,涡旋靠近岸界时,受岸界挤压,流速在一段时间内会增大,继续靠近岸界,由于岸界的摩擦、海底的拖曳,导致能量耗散,流速减小,最终涡旋消亡。     

PN断面黑潮流速垂直分布特征及机制分析

基于全球海洋再分析模拟GLORYS2(Global Ocean Reanalysis Simulation 2)结果,分析了PN断面(126.0°E-128.2°E,1 000 m以浅)黑潮流速垂直结构的季节和年际变化,探讨了黑潮流速垂直结构形成的动力学机制。结果表明:1)PN断面黑潮夏季流量最大,春季次之,秋、冬季节最小;气候态平均的冬、夏季流速最大值都位于次表层,春、秋季节流速最大值位于表层;夏季相对流速较大、最大值深度较浅;等密线在黑潮主轴区下凹,冬季更为明显。流速最大值深度和密度水平梯度为零的深度均表现出了较大的年际差异,该年际变化甚至超过季节差异;2)流速与密度符合热成风关系。黑潮通量由太平洋大尺度风场及中尺度运动两者共同决定,但局地的热通量和环流对温盐的输运共同影响密度场,调节黑潮流速的垂直分布,影响水通量的分配及营养盐输运;3)有些年份夏季流速最大值出现在表层,可能是夏季西南季风诱导陆架水离岸输运进入黑潮上层导致的结果。非线性、非地转物理过程的影响没有考虑在本研究中,热成风关系能够解释黑潮流速垂直分布形成的部分原因。     

PN断面黑潮流速垂直分布特征及机制分析（英文）

本文基于全球海洋再分析模拟GLORYS2(Global Ocean Reanalysis Simulation 2)结果,分析了PN断面(126.0°E-128.2°E,1 000 m以浅)黑潮流速垂直结构的季节和年际变化,探讨了黑潮流速垂直结构形成的动力学机制。结果表明:1)PN断面黑潮夏季流量最大,春季次之,秋、冬季节最小;气候态平均的冬、夏季流速最大值都位于次表层,春、秋季节流速最大值位于表层;夏季相对流速较大、最大值深度较浅;等密线在黑潮主轴区下凹,冬季更为明显。流速最大值深度和密度水平梯度为零的深度均表现出了较大的年际差异,该年际变化甚至超过季节差异;2)流速与密度符合热成风关系。黑潮通量由太平洋大尺度风场及中尺度运动两者共同决定,但局地的热通量和环流对温盐的输运共同影响密度场,调节黑潮流速的垂直分布,影响水通量的分配及营养盐输运;3)有些年份夏季流速最大值出现在表层,可能是夏季西南季风诱导陆架水离岸输运进入黑潮上层导致的结果。非线性、非地转物理过程的影响没有考虑在本研究中,热成风关系能够解释黑潮流速垂直分布形成的部分原因。     

基于高分辨ROMS模式的黑潮延伸体次中尺度涡各向异性分析

次中尺度过程的水平空间尺度约为0.1~10km, 时间尺度约为1天, 里查森数和罗斯贝数为0(1), 能有效地从中尺度环流中汲取能量向小尺度湍流串级, 并对上层海洋物质的垂向交换有着重要影响。本文基于水平分辨率为~500m的高分辨率ROMS(regional ocean modeling system)数值模拟结果, 采用方差椭圆方法, 评估了黑潮延伸体海域上层海洋次中尺度涡旋的各向异性特征, 并探讨了涡旋各向异性值的大小与次中尺度过程特征参数的相关性。研究结果表明, 黑潮延伸体主轴强流区域的次中尺度涡旋各向异性值明显小于两侧海域, 主轴区域的次中尺度涡旋特征明显强于流轴两侧海域, 各向异性值与次中尺度过程的强弱有着较为显著的负相关关系, 表明次中尺度过程具有较小的各向异性特征(更趋各向同性)。方差椭圆表征了涡与平均流相互作用过程中的能量反馈机制, 较大的各向同性特征意味着动能更趋正向串级。     

西北太平洋反气旋涡的Argos浮标观测结果分析

结合卫星高度计异常资料和2003年10月上旬投放在西北太平洋的25个Argos表层漂流浮标资料,分析观测海域的中尺度涡特征及浮标漂移路径上的温度和流速变化,结果表明:(1)7个浮标受强劲的黑潮流影响直接进入台湾岛以东黑潮表层的主流轴;(2)16个浮标在反气旋涡内旋转,并随中尺度涡向西运动,到达黑潮的东边界,由于中尺度涡旋的消亡,浮标脱离其影响后由黑潮带动向东海运动,浮标的移动轨迹呈螺线型;(3)仅有2个浮标在(123°E、20°N)附近通过吕宋海峡进入南海,且41490号浮标受台湾岛西南外海反气旋涡的影响作了2周旋转后再进入南海。比较分析表明,黑潮在冬季应该存在入侵南海的分支,但浮标能否顺利进入南海受多种随机因素控制,如风生流、潮流和波浪等。另外,西北太平洋向西传播的中尺度涡难以越过强劲的黑潮流屏障继续向西传播通过吕宋海峡进入南海。     

基于高分辨ROMS模式的黑潮延伸体次中尺度涡各向异性析分

次中尺度过程的水平空间尺度约为0.1～10km,时间尺度约为1天,里查森数和罗斯贝数为(1),能有效地从中尺度环流中汲取能量向小尺度湍流串级,并对上层海洋物质的垂向交换有着重要影响。本文基于水平分辨率为～500m的高分辨率ROMS(regional ocean modeling system)数值模拟结果,采用方差椭圆方法,评估了黑潮延伸体海域上层海洋次中尺度涡旋的各向异性特征,并探讨了涡旋各向异性值的大小与次中尺度过程特征参数的相关性。研究结果表明,黑潮延伸体主轴强流区域的次中尺度涡旋各向异性值明显小于两侧海域,主轴区域的次中尺度涡旋特征明显强于流轴两侧海域,各向异性值与次中尺度过程的强弱有着较为显著的负相关关系,表明次中尺度过程具有较小的各向异性特征(更趋各向同性)。方差椭圆表征了涡与平均流相互作用过程中的能量反馈机制,较大的各向同性特征意味着动能更趋正向串级。     

冬季台湾西南海域一对冷、暖中尺度涡的同化模拟研究

基于改进的1/30°分辨率的南海业务化预报系统,利用集合最优插值(En OI)同化方法对南海北部中尺度涡进行了同化模拟研究。模拟结果准确再现了2013年冬季发生在台湾岛西南海域的一对冷、暖中尺度涡的生成及传播过程。分析暖涡和冷涡成熟时期的垂向结构发现:暖涡中心温跃层深度超过200 m,而冷涡中心温跃层深度小于150 m;暖涡和冷涡经向和纬向流速均存在不对称性,相邻一侧流场强度明显偏强,对应较强的水平流速切变。上述特征与同时期南海中尺度涡观测实验结果基本一致。对暖涡和冷涡生成机制的分析印证了暖涡是由黑潮流套脱离生成的观点,同时指出冷涡是暖涡北侧较强的气旋式流速切变及西南向海流产生的离岸输运共同作用产生的。     

进入中国南海的黑潮脱落中尺度涡的特征——基于OFES模式数据

自黑潮脱落并由吕宋海峡进入中国南海的中尺度涡(简称脱落涡旋)对黑潮与南海的水体交换、热量及物质输送等过程均有十分重要的作用。基于1993—2013年OFES(OGCM for the Earth Simulator)模式数据产品,分析研究了脱落涡旋的统计特征及其温盐流三维结构,并与卫星观测结果进行对比分析。OFES模式的海表面高度数据和卫星高度计数据的统计结果都表明气旋式脱落涡旋(脱落冷涡)绝大部分在黑潮西侧边缘生成,反气旋式脱落涡旋(脱落暖涡)则大部分在黑潮控制区(包括黑潮流套区)生成,脱落暖涡的数量远多于脱落冷涡的。OFES模式数据得到的脱落涡旋个数和出现频率较卫星观测结果要明显偏低。此外,由OFES模式数据得到的脱落涡旋三维结构表明,黑潮控制区和黑潮西侧边缘生成的脱落冷涡的流场垂向影响深度差异较大,而脱落暖涡的流场垂向影响深度一般达水深1000 m以深,脱落涡旋的位势温度的垂向影响深度与该涡的流场垂向影响深度相当,其盐度的垂向影响深度则较浅;脱落涡旋的温盐结构受黑潮的影响较大。     

南海西部夏季上升流锋面的次中尺度特征分析

利用卫星遥感资料和区域海洋数值模式ROMS(regional ocean modeling system)高分辨率数值模拟结果, 对南海西部夏季上升流锋面的次中尺度特征及其非地转过程进行了探讨。高分辨率卫星遥感观测和数值模拟结果显示, 南海西部夏季锋面海域存在活跃的次中尺度现象, 其水平尺度约为1~10km, 且具有O(1)罗斯贝数(Rossby number, Ro)的典型次中尺度动力学特征。进一步的诊断分析表明, 在夏季西南风的驱动下, 沿锋面射流方向的风应力(down-front wind stress)引起的跨锋面埃克曼输运有利于将海水由锋面冷水侧向暖水侧输运, 减小了锋面海域的垂向层结和Ertel位涡, 加剧了锋面的不稳定, 并形成跨锋面的垂向次级环流。高分辨率模拟结果显示, 锋面海域最大垂向流速可达100m?d ^-1, 显著增强了上层海洋的垂向物质交换。因此, 活跃在锋面海域的次中尺度过程可能是增强南海西部上升流海域垂向物质交换的重要贡献者。     

黑潮延伸体海域典型涡旋的次中尺度特征分析*

本文基于卫星遥感资料和高分辨率ROMS(Regional Ocean Modeling System)数值模拟结果, 对黑潮延伸体海域典型中尺度涡旋的次中尺度特征进行了探讨。卫星观测和模拟结果显示, 黑潮延伸体涡旋海域伴随着活跃的次中尺度现象。涡旋演变与多尺度能量分析结果表明, 涡旋海域次中尺度动能的强弱与涡旋海域地转流动能有着密切联系, 锋生可能是涡旋边缘次中尺度动能增强的重要机制。次中尺度现象在中尺度涡旋海域具有沿地转流方向的复杂涡丝状结构特征, 意味着涡旋边缘较强的水平浮力梯度和地转流侧向剪切为次中尺度过程形成与发展提供了有利条件。此外, 垂向结构分析表明, 次中尺度过程能引起较大的垂向速度, 最大可达100m·day^-1, 该垂向速度可以影响至混合层下200m深度处, 对海洋内部的垂向物质能量交换、海—气相互作用等有着重要的影响。     

Submesoscale-enhanced filaments and frontogenetic mechanism within mesoscale eddies of the South China Sea

Submesoscale activity in the upper ocean has received intense studies through simulations and observations in the last decade, but in the eddy-active South China Sea (SCS) the fine-scale dynamical processes of submesoscale behaviors and their potential impacts have not been well understood. This study focuses on the elongated filaments of an eddy field in the northern SCS and investigates submesoscale-enhanced vertical motions and the underlying mechanism using satellite-derived observations and a high-resolution (~500 m) simulation. The satellite images show that the elongated highly productive stripes with a typical lateral scale of ~25 km and associated filaments are frequently observed at the periphery of mesoscale eddies. The diagnostic results based on the 500 m-resolution realistic simulation indicate that these submesoscale filaments are characterized by cross-filament vertical secondary circulations with an increased vertical velocity reaching O(100 m/d) due to submesoscale instabilities. The vertical advections of secondary circulations drive a restratified vertical buoyancy flux along filament zones and induce a vertical heat flux up to 110 W/m2. This result implies a significant submesoscale-enhanced vertical exchange between the ocean surface and interior in the filaments. Frontogenesis that acts to sharpen the lateral buoyancy gradients is detected to be conducive to driving submesoscale instabilities and enhancing secondary circulations through increasing the filament baroclinicity. The further analysis indicates that the filament frontogenesis detected in this study is not only derived from mesoscale straining of the eddy, but also effectively induced by the subsequent submesoscale straining due to ageostrophic convergence. In this context, these submesoscale filaments and associated frontogenetic processes can provide a potential interpretation for the vertical nutrient supply for phytoplankton growth in the high-productive stripes within the mesoscale eddy, as well as enhanced vertical heat transport.     

Modeling vertical motion at ocean fronts: Are nonhydrostatic effects relevant at submesoscales?

Through a suite of three-dimensional, high-resolution numerical modeling experiments, we examine the role of nonhydrostatic effects on O(1 km) submesoscale processes at ocean fronts, with particular focus on the vertical velocity field. Several differences between nonhydrostatic and hydrostatic models are pointed out using a framework that enables precise comparison, but it is difficult to identify categorical differences between the model solutions at the grid resolutions afforded. The instantaneous vertical velocity structure is sensitive to the model choice and, even more so, to grid resolution, but the average vertical flux is similar in both hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic cases.When a frontal region with horizontal density gradients is perturbed by wind, a profusion of submesoscale, O(1 km), secondary circulation features develops in the upper 50 m. Narrow, elongated cells of intense up- and down-welling are found to occur close to the surface, overlying broader regions of weaker up- and down-welling associated with the mesoscale meanders of the baroclinically unstable front. The submesoscale down-welling is considerably stronger than up-welling and is concentrated in 1–2 km width filaments within which velocities can attain magnitudes as high as 200 m day⁻¹. The submesoscale features are found to be robust at horizontal grid resolutions varying between 1 and 0.25 km and exist even in the hydrostatic model. Submesoscale circulation is difficult to observe or resolve in coarser resolution circulation models, but is likely to play a significant role in the exchange of energy and properties between the surface ocean and thermocline. Possible mechanisms for the generation of these features are investigated in a follow-on paper.     

High-resolution simulation of upper-ocean submesoscale variability in the South China Sea: Spatial and seasonal dynamical regimes

Submesoscale processes in marginal seas usually have complex generating mechanisms, highly dependent on the local background flow and forcing. This numerical study investigates the spatial and seasonal differences of submesoscale activities in the upper ocean of the South China Sea (SCS) and the different dynamical regimes for sub-regions. The spatial and seasonal variations of vertical vorticity, horizontal convergence, lateral buoyancy gradient, and strain rate are analyzed to compare the submesoscale phenomenon within four sub-regions, the northern region near the Luzon Strait (R1), the middle ocean basin (R2), the western SCS (R3), and the southern SCS (R4). The results suggest that the SCS submesoscale processes are highly heterogeneous in space, with different seasonalities in each sub-region. The submesoscale activities in the northern sub-regions (R1, R2) are active in winter but weak in summer, while there appears an almost seasonal anti-phase in the western region (R3) compared to R1 and R2. Interestingly, no clear seasonality of submesoscale features is shown in the southern region (R4). Further analysis of Ertel potential vorticity reveals different generating mechanisms of submesoscale processes in different sub-regions. Correlation analyses also show the vertical extent of vertical velocity and the role of monsoon in generating submesoscale activities in the upper ocean of sub-regions. All these results suggest that the sub-regions have different regimes for submesoscale processes, e.g., Kuroshio intrusion (R1), monsoon modulation (R2), frontal effects (R3), topography wakes (R4).     

黑潮延伸体海域次中尺度过程的季节变化研究

近年来的现场观测和理论研究发现, 次中尺度现象广泛存在于上层海洋, 其产生与锋生作用及混合层斜压不稳定存在密切联系。本文利用高分辨率的数值模拟结果并结合动力学及能量诊断分析, 对黑潮延伸体海域次中尺度过程的季节变化进行了探讨。探讨结果表明, 黑潮延伸体海域次中尺度过程具有冬季最强, 春季和秋季次之, 夏季最弱的显著季节变化特征。基于冬、夏季次中尺度能量源的诊断可以看到, 这些季节变化特征主要与上层海洋的斜压不稳定和锋生作用有关。冬季, 黑潮延伸体海域的中尺度能量较弱, 但次中尺度过程在季节尺度上表现最为活跃, 这主要与混合层斜压不稳定的作用有关; 夏季, 黑潮延伸体海域的混合层较浅, 次中尺度过程较弱, 但中尺度涡旋活跃, 中尺度流场变形引起的锋生作用对夏季次中尺度现象的产生具有重要影响。在次中尺度能量的季节变化方面, 冬季次中尺度过程从中尺度过程汲取能量的速率远高于夏季, 这是冬季次中尺度过程比夏季更为活跃的主要原因。本文研究结果有助于加深对黑潮延伸体海域次中尺度过程季节性变化及其动力机制的理解。     

The seasonal cycle of submesoscale flows

The seasonal cycle of submesoscale flows in the upper ocean is investigated in an idealised model domain analogous to mid-latitude open ocean regions. Submesoscale processes become much stronger as the resolution is increased, though with limited evidence for convergence of the solutions. Frontogenetical processes increase horizontal buoyancy gradients when the mixed layer is shallow in summer, while overturning instabilities weaken the horizontal buoyancy gradients as the mixed layer deepens in winter. The horizontal wavenumber spectral slopes of surface temperature and velocity are steep in summer and then shallow in winter. This is consistent with stronger mixed layer instabilities developing as the mixed layer deepens and energising the submesoscale. The degree of geostrophic balance falls as the resolution is made finer, with evidence for stronger non-linear and high-frequency processes becoming more important as the mixed layer deepens. Ekman buoyancy fluxes can be much stronger than surface cooling and are locally dominant in setting the stratification and the potential vorticity at fronts, particularly in the early winter. Up to 30% of the mixed layer volume in winter has negative potential vorticity and symmetric instability is predicted inside mesoscale eddies as well as in the frontal regions outside of the vortices.     

An analysis of mechanisms for submesoscale vertical motion at ocean fronts

We analyze model simulations of a wind-forced upper ocean front to understand the generation of near-surface submesoscale, O(1 km), structures with intense vertical motion. The largest vertical velocities are in the downward direction; their maxima are situated at approximately 25 m depth and magnitudes exceed 1 mm/s or 100 m/day. They are correlated with high rates of lateral strain, large relative vorticity and the loss of geostrophic balance. We examine several mechanisms for the formation of submesoscale structure and vertical velocity in the upper ocean. These include: (i) frontogenesis, (ii) frictional effects at fronts, (iii) mixed layer instabilities, (iv) ageostrophic anticyclonic instability, and (v) nonlinear Ekman effects. We assess the role of these mechanisms in generating vertical motion within the nonlinear, three-dimensionally evolving flow field of the nonhydrostatic model. We find that the strong submesoscale down-welling in the model is explained by nonlinear Ekman pumping and is also consistent with the potential vorticity arguments that analogize down-front winds to buoyancy-forcing. Conditions also support the formation of ageostrophic anticyclonic instabilities, but the contribution of these is difficult to assess because the decomposition of the flow into balanced and unbalanced components via semigeostrophic analysis breaks down at O(1) Rossby numbers. Mixed layer instabilities do not dominate the structure, but shear and frontogenesis contribute to the relative vorticity and strain fields that generate ageostrophy.     

南海上层海洋次中尺度过程空间差异和季节变化特征

南海是西太平洋最大的边缘海, 由于受季风影响显著以及北部海域的黑潮入侵, 其动力环境复杂多变, 次中尺度过程丰富, 且在空间上和时间上存在多变性。文章基于高分辨率数值模式的结果, 通过对次中尺度动力参数的分析, 对比讨论了南海北部、中部、西部和南部海域4个典型子区域上层海洋次中尺度过程的空间差异、季节变化、影响深度、影响因素等问题。研究发现各区域季节性变化特征和机制有所不同: 北部海域受冬季风和黑潮入侵影响, 冬季次中尺度的混合层不稳定较强; 中部海域同样表现为“冬强夏弱”; 西部海域受夏季风影响显著, 夏季次中尺度过程更为活跃; 而南部海域主要受岛屿地形影响较大, 容易产生地形尾涡, 季节性特征不明显。统计分析表明, 次中尺度过程往往表现出强正相对涡度与高应变特征, 在表层更容易出现负位涡, 流体稳定性较差。此外, 文章从能量学角度对次中尺度过程的主要能量来源、控制因素等进行了讨论。