Observed and modelled sea‐ice drift response to wind forcing in the northern Baltic Sea

The wind dependence of sea‐ice motion was studied on the basis of ice velocity and wind observations, and weather model output. The study area was a transition zone between open water and the ice‐covered ocean in the northern Baltic Sea. In the centre of the basin the sea‐ice motion was highly wind‐dependent and the linear relationship between the wind and the drift velocities explained 80% of the drift's variance. On the contrary, the wind‐drift dependence was low near the coast. The wind‐drift coherence was significant over a broader frequency range in the central part of the basin than for the coastal drift. The ice motion was simulated by a numerical model forced with five types of wind stress and with two types of current data, and the outcome was compared with the observed buoy drift. The wind and the wind‐induced surface current were the main factors driving the ice in the basin's centre, while internal ice stresses were of importance in the shear zone near the fast ice edge. The best wind forcing was achieved by applying a method dependent on atmospheric stability and ice conditions. The average air–ice drag coefficient was 1.4×10⁻³ with the standard deviation of 0.2×10⁻³. The improvement brought about by using an accurate wind stress was comparable with that achieved by raising the model grid resolution from 18 km to 5 km.     

Bathymetric influences of the Emperor Seamounts upon the subarctic gyre of the North Pacific: Examining boundary current dynamics along the eastern side of the mountain ridge with an idealized numerical model

The possible influences of the Emperor Seamounts (ESs) upon the subarctic gyre of the North Pacific (NPSAG) were investigated by a series of numerical experiments. In the experiments, a two-layer ocean with a meridional mountain ridge was forced by seasonally varying wind stress. We focused on how the return ratio, the ratio of the boundary transport along the eastern side of the ridge to the interior Sverdrup transport, changes with ridge height, width and density stratification. It was found that the return ratio can be large if the ridge width is greater than the width of the viscous boundary layer. In this case, the bottom pressure torque determines the return ratio; the return ratio is almost proportional to the ridge height when the ridge height is small and some contours of planetary potential vorticity pass over the ridge. However, the return ratio is independent of the ridge height and decreases with the stratification when the ridge height is large and all the contours of planetary potential vorticity are closed. These dependences of the return ratio were understood in terms of barotropic and baroclinic components of the bottom pressure torque. Implications for the bathymetric influences of ESs on the actual NPSAG are also discussed.     

Study on the currents in Lake Biwa (I)

Some numerical experiments by the barotropic nonlinear two dimensional models are performed to study the water circulations in Lake Biwa, especially to study the large anticlockwise gyre in the north basin. The wind fields used in the experiments have no rotational component. This gyre is induced by the southerly wind and is approximately on the geostrophic balance. The vorticity of this gyre is contributed from the vertical stretching of the vortex tube by the variable bottom topography and the inertia term. But the latter term does not become effective if the bottom profile of the basin is flat. Therefore the horizontal circulation in the barotropic closed basin is the “topographic gyres”. The bottom stress has a little contribution to the vorticity balance of the gyre.     

缓变风场驱动下正压环流中的多涡结构

利用正压涡度方程，研究了缓变风场驱动下水平尺度1000km平底方形海盆中海洋环流的响应。结果表明，缓变风场驱动下海洋环流的响应是多涡型的，线性情形下多涡结构表现为共振受迫Rossby波；非线性情形下受迫Rossby波被扭曲，多涡结构是由受迫Rossby波和次海盆尺度的惯性再循环共同构成。无论是稳定风场还是缓变风场，非线性作用越强，环流越趋于不稳定；非线性作用强且水平耗散作用弱时，非线性不稳定过程可能完全掩盖了变化的风旋度向海盆涡度输人的影响，此时风的变化对环流型式不再重要。     

Effects of bottom topography and density stratification on variations of western boundary currents caused by periodic change in wind stress

Variations of the western boundary currents induced by a periodic change in wind stress are studied in a two-layer model with a continental slope along the western boundary. The variation of the total transport of the western boundary current over the continental slope shows a considerable phase lag with the wind stress and a decrease in amplitude compared with for the flat bottom ocean, though the interior barotropic response is to adjust almost instantaneously to the wind stress. The total transport variation of the western boundary current is well approximated by the upper layer transport variation. That is, almost complete separation of the upper- and lower-layer flows takes place over the slope, and only the upper layer flow contributes to the change in total transport of the western boundary current. Contributions of the interior barotropic and baroclinic responses to the upper layer transport variation depend on the forcing period. With decrease in the forcing period, the barotropic response becomes relatively important for determining the upper layer transport variation although the amplitude of the variation is smaller.     

On the seasonal variation of transport through the Tokara Strait

Results are described from a limited area barotropic model of the North Pacific with 1/3°×1/3° resolution and bounded by latitudes 10°N and 50°N and longitudes 120°E and 160°E. The model employs dynamics linearised about a state of rest and incorporates realistic bottom topography. It is driven by the seasonally varying part of the Hellerman and Rosenstein wind stress field and by inflow along the northern and eastern boundaries specified from a 1°×1° version of the model applied to the whole North Pacific. The model-calculated transport variations through the Tokara Strait are similar to those of the observed seasonal sea level differences across the Strait, although the model appears to underestimate the amplitude of the signal by a factor of at least 2. The inclusion of realistic bottom topography is shown to be crucial in determining the model response.     

Seasonal energy cycle of wind-driven ocean circulation with particular emphasis on the role of bottom topography

We investigate how the bottom slope affects the time-dependent global energy balance of a two-layer subtropical gyre driven by seasonal winds in order to reformulate the concept joint effect of baroclinicity and bottom relief (JEBAR) based on energetics rather than vorticity dynamics. It is shown that the role of JEBAR in this situation is to transfer energy between the barotropic and baroclinic fields. Since a deep current tends to flow in meridional directions along a meridional ridge, the geostrophically balanced pressure-gradient forces can perform work on the zonal barotropic flow over the ridge. The direction of the deep motion, and hence the sign of the work is reversed seasonally because the pressure field in the lower layer exhibits an anticyclonic tendency in winter and a cyclonic tendency in summer. The topographic beta effect strengthens the work on the northwest and southeast sides of the ridge, so that the net contribution from the ridge region is negative in winter and positive in summer. On the other hand, this work must be canceled by enhancing the energy conversion to satisfy the energy equation. As a result, the ridge not only accelerates but also seasonally reverses the sign of the rate of energy conversion. With some modification, a meridional trench and a western continental slope turn out to have qualitatively the same effect on the seasonal transport variation. Therefore, the annual range in the barotropic transport of the gyre is, to varying degrees, reduced irrespective of the details of the large-scale bottom topography.     

Sea level response to wind field fluctuation around the tip of the Izu Peninsula

The mechanism of a characteristic sea level response (barotropic coastal ocean response) to wind field fluctuation around the tip of the Izu Peninsula observed during the middle of December 2000 to the middle of January 2001 was investigated based on three types of numerical experiments using the Princeton Ocean Model with various parameters. The response was characterized by the relaxation of sea level falling (rising) during eastward upwelling (westward downwelling) favorable wind regime. Analyses of quasi-realistic numerical model results in terms of the vertically integrated momentum balances and vorticity balance for the barotropic mode revealed that: 1) development/abatement of two anomalous circulations generated around the tip of the Izu Peninsula controls the sea level response through the acceleration/deceleration of a quasi-geostrophic barotropic coastal current between the circulations; 2) nonlinear vorticity advection by the Kuroshio Current and by the coastal current, coupled with vorticity diffusion, decelerates the quasi-geostrophic coastal current in the latter half of the wind regimes, which induces the relaxation of sea level rise/fall. The results of the quasi-realistic numerical experiment suggest that an analysis of the vorticity balance for the barotropic mode contributes to a better understanding of sea level responses to wind in coastal regions with strong currents and complex topography. In addition, a numerical experiment with idealized spatially uniform density stratification and a quasi-realistic wind field shows that if the Kuroshio Current had been shifted far offshore from the Izu Peninsula during the observation period, westward propagating continental shelf waves would have controlled the coastal sea level response.     

东海风应力旋度驱动的21天周期的海底压力变化及其传播

在2015年6月至2017年6月期间,跨越庆良间水道的由2台加载压力传感器的倒置式回声仪（PIES）和5台加载压力传感器和海流计的倒置式回声仪（CPIES）组成的观测断面获得了近2年的海底压力时间序列。该时间序列中存在着显著的21天周期的振荡（P_bot21）,该信号在2016年7月至10月期间尤为强烈。P_bot21与东海陆架上的风应力旋度存在较显著的3天延迟相关,其相关系数达到0.65。本文采用正压海洋模式解释了这一信号的产生、传播以及耗散过程,模式结果显示东海陆架上的风应力旋度驱动产生P_bot21并向琉球岛链传播,而深海上的风应力旋度不能驱动产生这一信号。在陆架上,P_bot21伴随21天周期的风应力旋度由海岸向东南方向传播,但由于摩擦作用,信号在离开风场后几天内即耗散。断面能否观测到P_bot21与陆架上21天周期风应力旋度场的分布相关,长江口东南方向风应力旋度驱动的P_bot21能被观测到,而长江口东北方向产生的P_bot21不能被观测到。     

黄、东海环流的数值研究Ⅲ——正压环流的数值模拟

依据黄、东海环流的的动力学模型 ,运用“流速分解法”对黄、东海正压环流进行了数值模拟。计算结果表明冬季黄海正压环流主要受风应力影响 ,基本形态为黄海暖流由济州岛西南进入南黄海中部 ,其东西两侧分别为两支向南流动的沿岸流 ;夏季主要受到潮致体力的影响 ,为一逆时针涡旋。东海环流主要是边界力作用驱动的结果 ,东海黑潮、台湾暖流和对马暖流较稳定。冬季风应力对东海环流表层流场有消弱作用 ,在夏季则有一定增强作用。     

南海东北部及台湾海峡环流机制的数值研究

利用1个正压的数值模式研究风应力、黑潮对南海东北部及台湾海峡环流的影响，结果为：（1）以风应力为驱动机制时其流态特别是在台湾海峡的流动具有季节性，但未反映南海黑潮分支的存在；在冬季也未见有南海暖流出现，但在东沙群岛附近海域终年存在着1个气旋涡；（2）以黑潮为驱动机制时，黑潮通过巴士海峡侵入南海海域，并导致东沙群岛附近气旋性涡旋的形成。另外，模式体现黑潮南海分支、南海暖流及台湾暖流的存在，并表明广东沿岸大陆架坡折区底形效应的重要性；（3）以风应力及黑潮入流作为联合驱动机制时，模式的结果似为第1，2种情形结果的叠加。     

Seasonal barotropic sea surface height fluctuation in relation to regional ocean mass variation

A consistency between seasonal fluctuation of actual sea surface height (SSH) and those caused by mass and density variations in gyre-scale regions is examined. The SSH obtained from satellite altimetry (altimetric SSH) is adopted as the actual SSH. SSH caused by mass variation (mass-related SSH) is simulated using a barotropic global ocean model forced by water flux, wind stress and surface pressure. SSH caused by density variation (steric SSH) is calculated from water density profile, i.e. temperature and salinity profiles. The model SSH well represents mass-related SSH for gyre-scale regional means, and seasonal fluctuation of the altimetric SSH corrected for the model SSH is similar to that of steric SSH above a pressure level larger than 300 dbar. The results indicate that the mass-related SSH does not much respond to the baroclinic adjustment to the seasonally varying wind stress curl. The mass-related SSH forced by wind stress and surface pressure should be accounted for regional evaluation, though it is not necessary for global mean evaluation. Detection of steric SSH from altimetric SSH would be useful for assimilation approaches in which the altimetric SSH is treated as the variable reflecting subsurface temperature and salinity.     

A numerical experiment on the variations of western boundary currents: Part I. Formation of western boundary currents

A numerical experiment is made using a barotropic model for the western boundary currents. The time-dependent, non-linear vorticity equation is integrated with and without the variable of bottom topography. The inertial and frictional boundary flow is resolved with a fine grid size of 10 km. Connection of the western boundary currents with the general circulation is facilitated by giving the fixed Sverdrup transport at the eastern boundary of the model (400 km offshore).For the flat bottom topography, steady flow forRe=35 shows dynamical balance essentially of a frictional model. The transient response leading to the formation of the western boundary currents in the model seems to support theLighthill's theory (1969). ForRe=350, unsteady features revealed byBryan (1963) is re-established. A phenomenon of barotropic instability is also observed with sufficient resolution. For the model with a continental slope the steady flow is also obtained forRe=35. The boundary currents flow over the continental slope, deviating offshore as they flow northward.     

A spectral barotropic model of the wind-driven world ocean

A global spectral barotropic ocean model is introduced to describe the depth-averaged flow. The equations are based on vorticity and divergence (instead of horizontal momentum); continents exert a nearly infinite drag on the fluid. The coding follows that of spectral atmospheric general circulation models using triangular truncation and implicit time integration to provide a first step for seamless coupling to spectral atmospheric global circulation models and an efficient method for filtering of ocean wave dynamics. Five experiments demonstrate the model performance: (i) Bounded by an idealized basin geometry and driven by a zonally uniform wind stress, the ocean circulation shows close similarity with Munk’s analytical solution. (ii) With a real land–sea mask the model is capable of reproducing the spin-up, location and magnitudes of depth-averaged barotropic ocean currents. (iii) The ocean wave-dynamics of equatorial waves, excited by a height perturbation at the equator, shows wave dispersion and reflection at eastern and western coastal boundaries. (iv) The model reproduces propagation times of observed surface gravity waves in the Pacific with real bathymetry. (v) Advection of tracers can be simulated reasonably by the spectral method or a semi-Langrangian transport scheme. This spectral barotropic model may serve as a first step towards an intermediate complexity spectral atmosphere–ocean model for studying atmosphere–ocean interactions in idealized setups and long term climate variability beyond millennia.     

Onset of coastal upwelling in a two-layer ocean by wind stress with longshore variation

On the assumption that motions of the barotropic mode are horizontally nondivergent, action of the wind stress with longshore variation on a two-layer ocean adjacent to the meridional east coast is studied. Only the equatorward wind stress is considered. Along the east coast, upwelling is induced by the direct effect of the coast and is confined in a narrow strip with the width of the order of the internal radius of deformation. The upwelling propagates poleward with the internal gravity wave speed. Coastal upwelling induced by the wind stress with longshore variation may be interpreted as the generation and propagation of internal Kelvin waves. Associated with the coastal upwelling, the equatorward flow in the upper layer and the poleward flow in the lower layer are formed as an internal mode of motions. When the bottom topography with the continental shelf and slope is taken into account, occurrence of the poleward undercurrent is delayed by a few days because of the generation of continental shelf waves. And, after the forcing is stopped, the shelf waves propagate poleward away from the upwelling region and the poleward undercurrent fully develops. At the margin of the continental shelf, another upwelling region is induced and propagates poleward.     

Wind Fields over Funka Bay and Their Effect on Water Circulation in the Bay

Horizontal wind fields over Funka Bay during cold air outbreaks were simulated using a 3-D meso-scale atmospheric model. The simulated wind fields over the bay have a positive curl in the north and a negative curl in the south. These wind fields were used to simulate the current in Funka Bay using a barotropic ocean model. The simulated current pattern was composed of two vortices—one with anti-clockwise vorticity in the north and the other with clockwise vorticity in the south—and was in the opposite direction to that simulated by the uniform wind fields. This is because the wind stress curl effect on the vorticity production in Funka Bay opposes and overwhelms the bathymetry torque effect during cold air outbreaks. These results show that the non-uniformity of the wind fields caused by the land topography around a shallow lake or bay cannot be neglected in simulating its currents.     

A spectral barotropic model of the wind-driven world ocean

A global spectral barotropic ocean model is introduced to describe the depth-averaged flow. The equations are based on vorticity and divergence (instead of horizontal momentum); continents exert a nearly infinite drag on the fluid. The coding follows that of spectral atmospheric general circulation models using triangular truncation and implicit time integration to provide a first step for seamless coupling to spectral atmospheric global circulation models and an efficient method for filtering of ocean wave dynamics. Five experiments demonstrate the model performance: (i) Bounded by an idealized basin geometry and driven by a zonally uniform wind stress, the ocean circulation shows close similarity with Munk’s analytical solution. (ii) With a real land–sea mask the model is capable of reproducing the spin-up, location and magnitudes of depth-averaged barotropic ocean currents. (iii) The ocean wave-dynamics of equatorial waves, excited by a height perturbation at the equator, shows wave dispersion and reflection at eastern and western coastal boundaries. (iv) The model reproduces propagation times of observed surface gravity waves in the Pacific with real bathymetry. (v) Advection of tracers can be simulated reasonably by the spectral method or a semi-Langrangian transport scheme. This spectral barotropic model may serve as a first step towards an intermediate complexity spectral atmosphere–ocean model for studying atmosphere–ocean interactions in idealized setups and long term climate variability beyond millennia.     

Generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide in the coastal zone

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, we study internal waves generated by a barotropic tide in a two-layer ocean of variable depth taking into account the influence of the Coriolis force. Barotropic waves run over an extended unevenness of the bottom at an arbitrary angle. This unevenness is regarded as a model of the continental slope and shelf. We establish the dependences of the amplitudes of generated internal waves on the angle of incidence of the barotropic tide, topography of the bottom, and stratification. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

南海东沙岛西南大陆坡内潮特征

2008年4月-10月,在南海东沙岛西南大陆坡底部布放了1套全剖面锚系,同时沿大陆坡底部布放了3套近底锚系,应用谱分析和调和分析方法分析温度和海流连续观测资料,进而研究该海域的内潮特征.结果表明,东沙岛西南大陆坡存在强内潮现象,大陆坡底部温度变化受到内潮波的影响,上层海洋存在强日潮周期的内潮波振动;正压潮和斜压潮均以O...     

Southern Ocean transformation in a coupled model with and without eddy mass fluxes

A coupled air–sea general circulation model is used to simulate the global circulation. Different parameterizations of lateral mixing in the ocean by eddies, horizontal, isopycnal, and isopycnal plus eddy advective flux, are compared from the perspective of water mass transformation in the Southern Ocean. The different mixing physics imply different buoyancy equilibria in the surface mixed layer, different transformations, and therefore a variety of meridional overturning streamfunctions. The coupled‐model approach avoids strong artificial water mass transformation associated with relaxation to prescribed mixed layer conditions. Instead, transformation results from the more physical non‐local, nonlinear interdependence of sea‐surface temperature, air–sea fluxes, and circulation in the model's atmosphere and ocean. The development of a stronger mid‐depth circulation cell and associated upwelling when eddy fluxes are present, is examined. The strength of overturning is diagnosed in density coordinates using the transformation framework.