Response of the mixed layer depth and subduction rate in the subtropical Northeast Pacific to global warming

The response of the mixed layer depth(MLD) and subduction rate in the subtropical Northeast Pacific to global warming is investigated based on 9 CMIP5 models. Compared with the present climate in the 9 models, the response of the MLD in the subtropical Northeast Pacific to the increased radiation forcing is spatially nonuniform, with the maximum shoaling about 50 m in the ensemble mean result. The inter-model differences of MLD change are non-negligible, which depend on the various dominated mechanisms. On the north of the MLD front, MLD shallows largely and is influenced by Ekman pumping, heat flux, and upper-ocean cold advection changes. On the south of the MLD front, MLD changes a little in the warmer climate, which is mainly due to the upper-ocean warm advection change. As a result, the MLD front intensity weakens obviously from 0.24 m/km to0.15 m/km(about 33.9%) in the ensemble mean, not only due to the maximum of MLD shoaling but also dependent on the MLD non-uniform spatial variability. The spatially non-uniform decrease of the subduction rate is primarily dominated by the lateral induction reduction(about 85% in ensemble mean) due to the significant weakening of the MLD front. This research indicates that the ocean advection change impacts the MLD spatially non-uniform change greatly, and then plays an important role in the response of the MLD front and the subduction process to global warming.     

副热带东北太平洋混合层深度及其对潜沉的影响

The present climate simulations of the mixed layer depth(MLD) and the subduction rate in the subtropical Northeast Pacific are investigated based on nine of the CMIP5 models. Compared with the observation data,spatial patterns of the MLD and the subduction rate are well simulated in these models. The spatial pattern of the MLD is nonuniform, with a local maximum MLD(140 m) region centered at(28°N, 135°W) in late winter. The nonuniform MLD pattern causes a strong MLD front on the south of the MLD maximum region, controls the lateral induction rate pattern, and then decides the nonuniform distribution of the subduction rate. Due to the inter-regional difference of the MLD, we divide this area into two regions. The relatively uniform Ekman pumping has little effect on the nonuniform subduction spatial pattern, though it is nearly equal to the lateral induction in values. In the south region, the northward warm Ekman advection(–1.75×10~(–7) K/s) controls the ocean horizontal temperature advection(–0.85×10~(–7) K/s), and prevents the deepening of the MLD. In the ensemble mean, the contribution of the ocean advection to the MLD is about –29.0 m/month, offsetting the sea surface net heat flux contribution(33.9 m/month). While in the north region, the southward cold advection deepens the MLD(21.4 m/month) as similar as the heat flux(30.4 m/month). In conclusion, the nonuniform MLD pattern is dominated by the nonuniform ocean horizontal temperature advection. This new finding indicates that the upper ocean current play an important role in the variability of the winter MLD and the subduction rate.     

副热带东北太平洋混合层深度及潜沉率季节循环对全球变暖的响应

本文利用第五次国际耦合模式比较计划（CMIP5）中的地球系统模式（ESM2M）,结合Argo观测数据和由Ishii等整理的再分析数据集,分析现在气候背景和辐射强迫极端增强下副热带东北太平洋海域（10°～40°N,110°～160°W）混合层深度（MLD）和潜沉率的季节变化特征,研究其对全球变暖的响应。在现在气候背景下,二者最大值均出现在冬季。潜沉率的主要贡献项存在显著的季节变化差异,1−5月主要受侧向潜沉率的变化控制,6−12月则由风应力旋度导致的埃克曼抽吸速度变化主控。全球变暖后,季节循环信号的主控要素不变。但受风应力旋度等要素变化的影响,各季节的MLD减小,大值区范围收缩。由于冬季减小幅度远大于夏季,MLD季节波动幅度（振幅）显著变小。长期看,MLD呈现持续变浅的趋势,其空间不均匀性减弱引起的MLD锋面减弱是控制侧向潜沉率减弱,最终导致总潜沉率减弱的关键。由于埃克曼抽吸速度的季节变化信号对全球变暖的响应较小,因此总潜沉率在冬季受全球变暖的影响最为强烈。上述结果表明,构成潜沉率的两个关键要素对总潜沉率的贡献比例是随着季节变化而改变的：冬季MLD锋面强盛时期,侧向潜沉率的影响将显著增强。全球变暖前后二者截然不同的变化会显著改变潜沉率的季节循环振幅,可能对该区域模态水的形成和输运产生深远的影响。     

北太平洋副热带东部模态水现在和未来的模拟分析

The present climate simulation and future projection of the Eastern Subtropical Mode Water(ESTMW) in the North Pacific are investigated based on the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model(GFDL-ESM2M). Spatial patterns of the mixed layer depth(MLD) in the eastern subtropical North Pacific and the ESTMW are well simulated using this model. Compared with historical simulation, the ESTMW is produced at lighter isopycnal surfaces and its total volume is decreased in the RCP8.5 runs, because the subduction rate of the ESTMW decreases by 0.82×10-6 m/s during February–March. In addition, it is found that the lateral induction decreasing is approximately four times more than the Ekman pumping, and thus it plays a dominant role in the decreased subduction rate associated with global warming. Moreover, the MLD during February–March is banded shoaling in response to global warming, extending northeastward from the east of the Hawaii Islands(20°N, 155°W) to the west coast of North America(30°N, 125°W), with a maximum shoaling of 50 m, and then leads to the lateral induction reduction. Meanwhile, the increased northeastward surface warm current to the east of Hawaii helps strengthen of the local upper ocean stratification and induces the banded shoaling MLD under warmer climate. This new finding indicates that the ocean surface currents play an important role in the response of the MLD and the ESTMW to global warming.     

Mixed layer depth front and subduction of low potential vorticity water in an idealized ocean GCM

It is known that there is a front-like structure at the mixed layer depth (MLD) distribution in the subtropical gyre, which is called the MLD front, and is associated with the formation region of mode water. In the present article, the generation mechanism of the MLD front is studied using an idealized ocean general circulation model with no seasonal forcing. First, it is shown that the MLD front occurs along a curve where u _g ·∇T _s = 0 is satisfied (u _g is the upper ocean geostrophic velocity vector, T _s is the sea surface temperature and ∇ is the horizontal gradient operator). In other words, the front is the boundary between the subduction region (u _g ·∇T _s > 0) and the region where subduction does not occur (u _g ·∇T _s < 0). Second, we have investigated subduction of low potential vorticity water at the MLD front, which has been pointed out by past studies. Since u _g ·∇T _s = 0 at the MLD front, the water particles do not cross the outcrop at the MLD front. The water that is subducted at the MLD front has come from the deep mixed layer region where the sea surface temperature is higher than that at the MLD front. The temperature of the water in the deep mixed layer region decreases as it is advected eastward, attains its minimum at the MLD front where u _g ·∇T _s = 0, and then subducts under the warmer surface layer. Since the deep mixed layer water subducts beneath a thin stratified surface layer, maintaining its thickness, the mixed layer depth changes abruptly at the subduction location.     

Interannual variability of mixed layer depth and heat storage of upper layer in the tropical Pacific Ocean

By using the upper layer data(downloaded from the web of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography ),the interannual variability of the heat storage of upper layer(from surface to 400 m depth) and the mixed layer depth in the tropical Pacific Ocean are investigated. The abnormal signal of the warm event comes from the central and west Pacific Ocean, whereas it is regarded that the abnormal signal of the warm event comes from the east Pacific Ocean in the popular viewpoint. From the viewpoint on the evolution of the interannual variability of the mixed layer depth and the heat storage of the whole upper layer, the difference between the two types of E1Nino is so small that it can be neglected. During these two E1Nino/La Nina events( 1972/1973 and 1997/1998), other than the case of the heat storage or for the mixed layer depth, the abnormal signal propagates from the central and west Pacific Ocean to the east usually by the path along the equator whereas the abnormal signal propagates from the east to the west by the path northern to the equator. For the interannual variability, the evolution of the mixed layer depth corresponds to that of the heat storage in the upper layer very well. This is quite different from the evolution of seasonality.     

Mixed layer depth climatology of the North Pacific based on Argo observations

A monthly mean climatology of the mixed layer depth (MLD) in the North Pacific has been produced by using Argo observations. The optimum method and parameter for evaluating the MLD from the Argo data are statistically determined. The MLD and its properties from each density profile were calculated with the method and parameter. The monthly mean climatology of the MLD is computed on a 2° × 2° grid with more than 30 profiles for each grid. Two bands of deep mixed layer with more than 200 m depth are found to the north and south of the Kuroshio Extension in the winter climatology, which cannot be reproduced in some previous climatologies. Early shoaling of the winter mixed layer between 20–30°N, which has been pointed out by previous studies, is also well recognized. A notable feature suggested by our climatology is that the deepest mixed layer tends to occur about one month before the mixed layer density peaks in the middle latitudes, especially in the western region, while they tend to coincide with each other in higher latitudes.     

不同混合层深度算法的全球适用性对比分析

混合层深度是研究海洋上层动力过程及海气相互作用的一个至关重要的物理量,准确估算混合层深度对上层海洋动力学和热力学的深入研究具有重要的科学意义。本文基于Argo实时观测剖面数据,分海域、分季节对比分析了目前常用的几种混合层深度算法的异同与优缺点。结果表明,理论上最大角度法的精确度最高,曲率法其次,然后是阈值法和最优线性拟合法。最大角度法和曲率法的结果比较接近,实测数据表明曲率法的时空适用性更广。阈值法、最优线性拟合法分别受梯度阈值和密度（或温度）梯度变化的制约,其计算的混合层深度相对较浅。各种算法的差异性随着季节跃层的增强而逐渐减小,且北半球的差异小于南半球。     

北太平洋副热带模态水形成区混合层热动力过程诊断分析

利用NCEP海洋数据和COADS海气通量资料,通过诊断分析,揭示了海表热力强迫、垂直夹卷、埃克曼平流和地转平流效应在北太平洋副热带模态水形成过程中的贡献。研究表明,在北太平洋副热带3个模态水形成海域冬季混合层降温过程中,海表热力强迫和垂直夹卷效应是主导因素,二者的相对贡献分别约为67%和19%(西部模态水)、53%和21%(中部模态水)、65%和30%(东部模态水);并且在东部模态水形成海域,埃克曼平流和地转平流皆是暖平流效应,而在西部和中部模态水形成海域,仅有地转平流是暖平流效应。进一步的分析表明,海洋平流(地转平流、埃克曼平流)对北太平洋副热带模态水形成海域秋、冬季混合层温度的年际、年代际异常有显著影响,在西部模态水形成海域,海表热力强迫(62%)和地转平流(32%)是导致混合层温度年际、年代际变化的主要因子;在中部模态水形成海域,混合层温度的年际、年代际变化是埃克曼平流(32%)、地转平流(30%)和海表热力强迫(25%)共同作用的结果;相对而言,东部模态水形成海域混合层温度的年际、年代际异常主要受海表热力强迫(67%)控制。     

南海混合层深度的季节和年际变化特征

利用1871-2008年SODA资料和月平均的Levitus资料计算了南海混合层深度(MLD)的季节及年际变化特征.资料分析表明:季风通过流场调整对南海MLD的时空分布特征有显著的影响.南海MLD的距平变化总体上呈上升趋势,南海南部MLD的距平变化趋势和北部的有显著差异,特别在1955年后北部整体呈下降趋势而南部呈上升趋势,二者的显著周期北部为2-3年,南部与整个区域平均的基本相似有2-6年的显著周期.SOI指数对滞后的南海各个区域有较好的相关性.EOF分析表明第一模态整体呈单极型最大变率分布在南海南部,由南往北逐渐减小显著周期2-3年变化为主;第二模态呈偶极子型,显著周期以2-5年变化为主.回归分析表明南海南部深水区域呈现增深的趋势,而吕宋海峡至南海北部陆架区呈变浅趋势,滑动t检验表明南海MLD有6个显著的突变年份.     

Temporal variability of winter mixed layer in the mid-to high-latitude North Pacific

Temperature and salinity data from 2001 through 2005 from Argo profiling floats have been analyzed to examine the time evolution of the mixed layer depth (MLD) and density in the late fall to early spring in mid to high latitudes of the North Pacific. To examine MLD variations on various time scales from several days to seasonal, relatively small criteria (0.03 kg m⁻³ in density and 0.2°C in temperature) are used to determine MLD. Our analysis emphasizes that maximum MLD in some regions occurs much earlier than expected. We also observe systematic differences in timing between maximum mixed layer depth and density. Specifically, in the formation regions of the Subtropical and Central Mode Waters and in the Bering Sea, where the winter mixed layer is deep, MLD reaches its maximum in late winter (February and March), as expected. In the eastern subarctic North Pacific, however, the shallow, strong, permanent halocline prevents the mixed layer from deepening after early January, resulting in a range of timings of maximum MLD between January and April. In the southern subtropics from 20° to 30°N, where the winter mixed layer is relatively shallow, MLD reaches a maximum even earlier in December–January. In each region, MLD fluctuates on short time scales as it increases from late fall through early winter. Corresponding to this short-term variation, maximum MLD almost always occurs 0 to 100 days earlier than maximum mixed layer density in all regions.     

西北太平洋海洋温度锋生与锋消机制的初步研究

海洋锋面区域对气候变化以及海气耦合作用的影响非常显著,通过分析其形成机制,可以帮助进一步了解海洋与大气的相互作用过程以及其物理过程。利用Argo数据、NCEP/NCAR再分析数据和遥感风场数据对西北太平洋的混合层温度与温度锋面的变化机制进行了研究。基于海洋混合层的热量收支模型,发现在北太平洋区域的海洋混合层温度主要受到净热通量控制,同时还存在一个季节变化明显的温度锋面。9~2月为温度锋面加强时期,3~4月温度锋面变化不明显,而5~8月温度锋面则迅速减弱。根据研究,该温度锋面的加强与减弱主要是由于净热通量的南北差异造成的,而在净热通量中则以短波辐射通量与潜热通量为主要影响因子。     

Simulation of the ocean surface mixed layer under the wave breaking

A one-dimensional mixed-layer model, including a Mellor-Yamada level 2.5 turbulence closure scheme, was implemented to investigate the dynamical and thermal structures of the ocean surface mixed layer in the northern South China Sea. The turbulent kinetic energy released through wave breaking was incorporated into the model as a source of energy at the ocean surface, and the influence of the breaking waves on the mixed layer was studied. The numerical simulations show that the simulated SST is overestimated in summer without the breaking waves. However, the cooler SST is simulated when the effect of the breaking waves is considered, the corresponding discrepancy with the observed data decreases up to 20% and the MLD calculated averagely deepens 3.8 m. Owing to the wave-enhanced turbulence mixing in the summertime, the stratification at the bottom of the mixed layer was modified and the temperature gradient spread throughout the whole thermocline compared with the concentrated distribution without wave breaking.     

一种海洋混合层深度的智能识别方法研究

文章提出了一种识别混合层深度的人工智能方法。该方法在温度(密度)与压强(或深度)间建立线性模型, 并且将其系数和方差做成一组表征廓线特征的统计量。初始时为模型设定一个主观的先验分布, 在一个自海表向下移动的窗口内通过贝叶斯链式法则和最小描述长度原理学习新数据, 得到系数均值的最大后验概率估计。用F-检验识别系数发生突变的位置, 以此确定混合层的存在性及其深度。通过2017年2月太平洋海域的地转海洋学实时观测阵(Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography, ARGO)数据进行测试, 并且以质量因子(Quality Index, QI)值作为判断识别混合层深度结果准确性的依据, 发现该方法相比于梯度法、阈值法、混合法、相对变化法、最大角度法和最优线性插值法在识别结果上具备更大的QI值。表明该方法能够准确识别混合层深度。     

ADCP测量数据深度值的正确解析

介绍了声学多普勒流速剖面仪(ADCP)测流和测深的基本原理,着重论述了汇整ADCP测量的层深、水深数据的误差来源、判读和校正方法,并给出了实用的计算公式。本文研究的方法对于船载、向下观测的走航、定点ADCP测量深度数据的处理,精确定位海流测量结果、保证海流测量结果反映真实海洋环境状况,具有实际的应用价值,同时能够为锚系ADCP测量层深与水深数据的处理提供可参考的技术依据。     

北太平洋副热带模态水形成区潜沉率的年际变化及其机制

根据Huang和Qiu 1995年的潜沉率计算公式,采用同化的海洋模式资料和海洋-大气界面的通量观测资料,计算了北太平洋副热带海域3个模态水形成区逐年的潜沉率,研究了潜沉率产生年际变化的机制.研究结果表明:西部、中部和东部3个模态水形成区潜沉率的年际变化主要周期分别为6,2~5和2 a;北太平洋副热带模态水的3个形成区的潜沉率都发现年代际的变化特征:在1985年以前,西部模态水形成区的潜沉率年际变化最为显著,但1985后年际变化振幅明显减小;在中部模态水形成区,1975~1992年间潜沉率随时间的变化的振幅较大,潜沉率在这段时间内的平均值也达到33.99 m/a,而在1970~1975年间和1993~1998年间潜沉率都小于20 m/a;西部副热带模态水形成区的潜沉率的年际变化与这里海面的净热通量的年际变化有很好的相关性,中部副热带模态水形成区潜沉率的年际变化则取决于局地Ekman流的年际变化,而在东部模态水形成区局地风应力旋度的变化直接影响潜沉率的大小.     

Mixed and mixing layer depths simulated by an OGCM

The global distributions of the mixed layer depth h _D , representing the depth of uniform density, and the mixing layer depth h _K , representing the depth of active turbulent mixing, were simulated using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM), and compared with each other, as well as with the mixed layer depth from the climatological data h _D *. The comparison between h _D and h _D * suggested that the threshold density difference Δ σ _θ should decrease from 0.09 kg m⁻³ to 0.02 kg m⁻³ with increasing latitude for consistent comparison between two mixed layer depths, due to the different nature of density profiles depending on latitude. The comparison between h _D and h _K revealed that h _K is deeper than h _D in the region where strong subsurface shear is present, such as the equatorial ocean and the region of the western boundary current. On the other hand, h _K is shallower than h _D in the high latitude ocean during convective cooling and early restratification.     

Mesoscale features and phytoplankton biomass at the GoodHope line in the Southern Ocean during austral summer

Two sets of high-resolution subsurface hydrographic and underway surface chlorophyll a (Chl a) measurements are used, in conjunction with satellite remotely sensed data, to investigate the upper layer oceanography (mesoscale features and mixed layer depth variability) and phytoplankton biomass at the GoodHope line south of Africa, during the 2010–2011 austral summer. The link between physical parameters of the upper ocean, specifically frontal activity, to the spatially varying in situ and satellite measurements of Chl a concentrations is investigated. The observations provide evidence to show that the fronts act to both enhance phytoplankton biomass as well as to delimit regions of similar chlorophyll concentrations, although the front–chlorophyll relationships become obscure towards the end of the growing season due to bloom advection and ‘patchy’ Chl a behaviour. Satellite ocean colour measurements are compared to in situ chlorophyll measurements to assess the disparity between the two sampling techniques. The scientific value of the time-series of oceanographic observations collected at the GoodHope line between 2004 to present is being realised. Continued efforts in this programme are essential to better understand both the physical and biogeochemical dynamics of the upper ocean in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean.     

The role of surface waves in the ocean mixed layer

Previously, most ocean circulation models have overlooked the role of the surface waves. As a result, these models have produced insufficient vertical mixing, with an under - prediction of the ,nixing layer （ML） depth and an over - prediction of the sea surface temperature （SST）, particularly during the summer season. As the ocean surface layer determines the lower boundary conditions of the atmosphere, this deficiency has severely limited the performance of the coupled ocean - atmospheric models and hence the climate studies. To overcome this shortcoming, a new parameterization for the wave effects in the ML model that will correct this systematic error of insufficient mixing. The new scheme has enabled the mixing layer to deepen, the surface excessive heating to be corrected, and an excellent agreement with observed global climatologic data. The study indicates that the surface waves are essential for ML formation, and that they are the primer drivers of the upper ocean dynamics; therefore, they are critical for climate studies.     

热力学效应及斯托克斯漂流对混合层影响的研究

本文通过理想化的外部强迫以及海洋站点实测数据驱动普林斯顿海洋模式来研究海洋热力学效应和斯托克斯漂流对上混合层数值模拟的影响。在Mellor-Yamada湍流闭合方案中,经常出现夏季海表面温度偏暖和混合层深度偏浅的模拟误差。实验表明,斯托克斯漂流在冬季和夏季均能增强湍流动能,加深混合层深度。这种效应可以改善夏季的模拟结果,但与观测数据相比,将增大冬季混合层深度的模拟误差。斯托克斯漂流可以通过增强湍动能来加深混合层深度。结果表明,将斯托克斯漂流与冷皮层和暖层对上部混合层的热效应相结合,可以正确地模拟混合层深度。在夏季,海洋冷皮层和暖层通过“阻挡结构”和双温跃层结构模拟出更真实的上混合层变化。在冬季,海洋热力学效应通过增强上层海洋层结平衡了斯托克斯漂流的影响,并且由斯托克斯漂流引起的过度混合被校正。