Exponential leap-forward gradient scheme for determining the isothermal layer depth from profile data

Two distinct layers usually exist in the upper ocean. The first has a near-zero vertical gradient in temperature (or density) from the surface and is called the isothermal layer (or mixed layer). Beneath that is a layer with a strong vertical gradient in temperature (or density), called the thermocline (or pycnocline). The isothermal layer depth (ILD) or mixed layer depth (MLD) for the same profile varies depending on the method used to determine it. Also, whether they are subjective or objective, existing methods of determining the ILD do not estimate the thermocline (pycnocline) gradient. Here, we propose a new exponential leap-forward gradient (ELG) method of determining the ILD that retains the strengths of subjective (simplicity) and objective (gradient change) methods and avoids their weaknesses (subjective methods are threshold-sensitive and objective methods are computationally intensive). This new method involves two steps: (1) the estimation of the thermocline gradient G _th for an individual temperature profile, and (2) the computation of the vertical gradient by averaging over gradients using exponential leap-forward steps. Such averaging can filter out noise in the profile data. Five existing methods of determining the ILD (difference, gradient, maximum curvature, maximum angle, and optimal linear fitting methods) as well as the proposed ELG method were verified using global expendable bathythermograph (XBT) temperature and conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) datasets. Among all the methods considered, the ELG method yielded the highest skill score and the lowest Shannon information entropy (i.e., the lowest uncertainty).     

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.     

Vertical structure of the upper ocean from profiles fitted to physically consistent functional forms

A method for characterizing the upper ocean structure is developed. Each temperature (density) profile is fitted by an ideal function based on the assumption that the permanent and seasonal thermoclines can be approximated respectively by steady state and transients of turbulent-diffusive processes and that the mixed layer can advance sharply under external forcing. The ideal profile is composed of two pieces joined at the mixed layer depth (MLD). The upper part is a constant; the part below the MLD is a product of an exponential decay and a Gaussian, representing the seasonal thermocline and decaying asymptotically to a straight line that describes the permanent thermocline. The composition of an exponential decay and a Gaussian accurately fits a wide family of solutions of the diffusion equation and includes the case of a shift of the boundary. The ideal fit for each profile relies on six adjustable parameters including the MLD. As the function is non-linear and non-differentiable, a Differential Evolution optimization algorithm is proposed to make the fitting. The solution gives a good estimate of the MLD based on the topology of the profile. It also provides a measure of the gradient and the shape of each profile, which are intuitive parameters for characterizing the upper ocean structure with direct applicability in ecosystem models. The algorithm is applied to a time series of monthly conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) profiles from a hydrographical station in the southern Bay of Biscay. The construction of a local climatology of the vertical structure evolution (mixed layer development) is presented as a practical application. Other potential uses of the method are also discussed.     

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.     

南大洋混合层的时空变化特征

过去对南大洋的研究受限于长期观测的缺乏,而现在地转海洋学实时观测阵(Arrayfor Real-timeGeostrophicOceanography,Argo)项目自开始以来持续提供了高质量的温度盐度观测,使系统地研究南大洋海洋上层结构成为可能。本研究使用2000—2018年的Argo浮标观测数据,分析了南大洋混合层深度(Mixed Layer Depth, MLD)的时空分布特征。结果表明:南大洋混合层存在明显的季节变化,冬春两季MLD在副南极锋面北侧达到最高值并呈带状分布,夏秋两季由于海表加热导致混合层变浅,季节变化幅度达到400m以上;在年际尺度上,MLD受南半球环状模(Southern HemisphereAnnularMode,SAM)调制,呈现纬向不对称空间分布特征,这与前人结果一致;本文指出在所研究时段,南大洋混合层在90°E以东,180°以西有加深趋势,而在60°W以西,180°以东有变浅趋势,显示出偶极子分布特征,并且这种趋势特征主要是风场的作用。     

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。     

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。     

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.     

赤道东印度洋和孟加拉湾障碍层厚度的年际变化及其影响机制

Interannual variability(IAV) in the barrier layer thickness(BLT) and forcing mechanisms in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean(EEIO) and Bay of Bengal(BoB) are examined using monthly Argo data sets during 2002–2017. The BLT during November–January(NDJ) in the EEIO shows strong IAV, which is associated with the Indian Ocean dipole mode(IOD), with the IOD leading the BLT by two months. During the negative IOD phase, the westerly wind anomalies driving the downwelling Kelvin waves increase the isothermal layer depth(ILD). Moreover, the variability in the mixed layer depth(MLD) is complex. Affected by the Wyrtki jet, the MLD presents negative anomalies west of 85°E and strong positive anomalies between 85°E and 93°E. Therefore, the BLT shows positive anomalies except between 86°E and 92°E in the EEIO. Additionally, the IAV in the BLT during December–February(DJF) in the BoB is also investigated. In the eastern and northeastern BoB, the IAV in the BLT is remotely forced by equatorial zonal wind stress anomalies associated with the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation(ENSO). In the western BoB, the regional surface wind forcing-related ENSO modulates the BLT variations.     

Barrier and compensation layers in the East China Sea

Climatology of the isothermal layer depth （ILD） and the mixed layer depth （MLD） has been produced from in-situ temperaturesalinity observations in the East China Sea （ECS） since 1925. The methods applied on the global are used to compute the ILD and the MLD in the ECS with a temperature criterion AT=0. 8 ℃ for the ILD, and a density criterion with a threshold △σθ corresponding to fixed △T=0. 8 ℃ for the MLD, respectively. With the derived climatology ILD and MLD, the monthly variations of the barrier layer （BL） and the compensation layer （CL） in the ECS are analyzed. The BL mainly exists in the shallow water region of the ECS during April-June with thickness larger than 15 m. From December to next March, the area along the shelf break from northeast of Taiwan Island to the northeast ECS is characterized by the CL. Two kinds of main temperature - salinity structures of the CL in this area are given.     

Mixed layer variability in Northern Arabian Sea as detected by an Argo float

Seasonal evolution of surface mixed layer in the Northern Arabian Sea (NAS) between 17° N–20.5° N and 59° E-69° E was observed by using Argo float daily data for about 9 months, from April 2002 through December 2002. Results showed that during April - May mixed layer shoaled due to light winds, clear sky and intense solar insolation. Sea surface temperature (SST) rose by 2.3 °C and ocean gained an average of 99.8 Wm⁻². Mixed layer reached maximum depth of about 71 m during June - September owing to strong winds and cloudy skies. Ocean gained abnormally low ∼18 Wm⁻² and SST dropped by 3.4 °C. During the inter monsoon period, October, mixed layer shoaled and maintained a depth of 20 to 30 m. November - December was accompanied by moderate winds, dropping of SST by 1.5 °C and ocean lost an average of 52.5 Wm⁻². Mixed layer deepened gradually reaching a maximum of 62 m in December. Analysis of surface fluxes and winds suggested that winds and fluxes are the dominating factors causing deepening of mixed layer during summer and winter monsoon periods respectively. Relatively high correlation between MLD, net heat flux and wind speed revealed that short term variability of MLD coincided well with short term variability of surface forcing.     

Submesoscale motions and their seasonality in the northern Bay of Bengal

The unbalanced submesoscale motions and their seasonality in the northern Bay of Bengal(BoB) are investigated using outputs of the high resolution regional oceanic modeling system. Submesoscale motions in the forms of filaments and eddies are present in the upper mixed layer during the whole annual cycle. Submesoscale motions show an obvious seasonality, in which they are active during the winter and spring but weak during the summer and fall. Their seasonality is associated with the mixed layer...     

Temporal variations of the winter mixed layer south of the Kuroshio Extension

A monthly mean time series of the temperature profile in the recirculation gyre south of the Kuroshio Extension has been produced for the period 1971–2007 to examine temporal variations of the winter mixed layer. The winter mixed layer depth (MLD) shows both interannual and decadal variations and is significantly correlated with variation of the mean net surface heat flux in late autumn to early winter. There is also a close relation with the strength of pre-existing subsurface stratification, measured as vertical temperature gradients in the preceding summer. Linear multiple regression analysis shows that a significant fraction of the variations in the winter MLD is explained by the surface heat flux and the strength of the stratification. The contribution of the two factors is comparable.     

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.     

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.     

Response of the North Pacific subtropical countercurrent and its variability to global warming

Response of the North Pacific subtropical countercurrent (STCC) and its variability to global warming is examined in a state-of-the-art coupled model that is forced by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. Compared with the present climate, the upper ocean is more stratified, and the mixed layer depth (MLD) shoals in warmer climate. The maximum change of winter MLD appears in the Kuroshio–Oyashio extension (KOE) region, where the mean MLD is the deepest in the North Pacific. This weakens the MLD front and reduces lateral induction. As a result of the reduced subduction rate and a decrease in sea surface density in KOE, mode waters form on lighter isopycnals with reduced thickness. Advected southward, the weakened mode waters decelerate the STCC. On decadal timescales, the dominant mode of sea surface height in the central subtropical gyre represents STCC variability. This STCC mode decays as CO₂ concentrations double in the twenty-first century, owing both to weakened mode waters in the mean state and to reduced variability in mode waters. The reduced mode-water variability can be traced upstream to reduced variations in winter MLD front and subduction in the KOE region where mode water forms.     

Monthly Variability of Mixed Layer over Arabian Sea Using ARGO Data

The mixed layer depths over the Arabian Sea were computed for the three successive years 2004-2006 using ARGO floats data. The large availability of ARGO floats for the above period resulted in better estimation of mixed layer depth (MLD) over the Arabian Sea. The results were compared with World Ocean Atlas 1994 MLD Climatology. Marked variability in MLD on a monthly time scale is observed and it was in accordance with the wind stress and/or net heat gain variability, which are the principal factors influencing mixed layer over Arabian Sea. With the availability of large number of ARGO profile data, an attempt is made to study the monthly variability of Mixed Layer.     

“SZ-4”飞船高度计天线指向角反演方法

利用2003年2月7到8日“SZ-4”高度计的波形数据,经过波形数据预处理(波形为1 s的平均、去除热噪声和波形归一化)后,对海面回波波形后沿进行拟合,计算出了高度计天线的指向角,结果表明,“SZ-4”飞船高度计天线的指向角几乎全部在0.024°以内,天线指向在计算时间内比较稳定.     

Characteristics of the surface mixed layer depths in the northern South China Sea in spring

The nature and characteristics of the mixed layer depth (MLD) remain uncertain in the northern South China Sea. Using in situ data, we examined the quality of different MLD definitions, investigated the spatial and diurnal variation in the MLD, and examined the mechanisms of mixed layer development during March 23–31, 2014. We made distinct calculations of the MLD; of which two are (a) the depths between two different temperatures (0.2, 0.6 °C) and (b) the depths between two density differences (0.125, 0.25 kg/m³); and the fifth calculation is a depth derived from the optimal linear fitness method. We found that the optimal linear fitness MLD was the best definition for our study region ,and that it deepened from the shelf to the slope. Twenty-four-hour diurnal variation in the MLDs and mixing layers was observed when the ship was moored. Mixing layers were characterized by turbulent dissipation rates. We found that the mixed layer underwent a ‘stable-decaying–developing’ process. During the stable period, the MLD was close to that of the mixing layer, but during the decay/development periods, the MLDs were larger/smaller than those of the mixing layers. We suggest that both velocity shear and buoyancy flux were important in mixed layer development. We quantitatively examined the mechanisms of mixing in the shelf region, with air–sea net heat flux determined to be the major factor, rather than wind speed or current velocity.     

Improved description of global mixed-layer depth using Argo profiling floats

A global data set describing the gridded mixed-layer depth (MLD) in 10-day intervals was produced using high-quality Argo float data from 2001 to 2009. The characteristics and advantages provided by the new MLD data set are described here, including a comparison based on two different thresholds and using data sets of different vertical and temporal resolution. The MLD in the data set was estimated on the basis of a shallower depth of the iso-thermal layer (TLD) or iso-pycnal layer (PLD), calculated using the finite difference method. The MLD data are incorporated into 2° × 2° grid in the global ocean, including marginal seas. Also, two threshold values were used to examine differences in the MLD and its seasonal temporal variability. The characteristics and advantages of using the Argo 10-day intervals to determine the MLD were then confirmed by comparing those data with the station buoy daily means and the Argo monthly means. With respect to vertical and temporal resolutions, the Argo 10-day data has two distinct advantages: (1) improved representation of the MLD vertical change due to high vertical resolution, especially during periods of large MLD variability and (2) more detailed representation of the temporal change in MLD than achieved with the Argo monthly mean data, especially from winter to spring in mid and high latitudes. These advantages were maintained in the case of a larger threshold despite the fact that the MLD is rather deep and the detailed variation in its distribution differs depending on the season and location. This study also investigated the relative influence of TLD and PLD to the MLD calculation for each grid. Generally, the MLD is primarily determined based on the PLD at low and mid latitudes (TLD > PLD), whereas the TLD is more important at high latitudes, especially in winter (TLD < PLD). In the case of a larger threshold, the area of the larger PLD influence spreads polewards because of the greater effect of salinity in winter. Although there are some differences in the effect of temperature and salinity in estimations of the MLD, both are indispensable factors for the MLD estimations even at different thresholds.