Changes in mixed layer depth under climate change projections in two CGCMs

Two coupled general circulation models, i.e., the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) models, were chosen to examine changes in mixed layer depth (MLD) in the equatorial tropical Pacific and its relationship with ENSO under climate change projections. The control experiment used pre-industrial greenhouse gas concentrations whereas the 2 × CO₂ experiment used doubled CO₂ levels. In the control experiment, the MLD simulated in the MRI model was shallower than that in the GFDL model. This resulted in the tropical Pacific’s mean sea surface temperature (SST) increasing at different rates under global warming in the two models. The deeper the mean MLD simulated in the control simulation, the lesser the warming rate of the mean SST simulated in the 2 × CO₂ experiment. This demonstrates that the MLD is a key parameter for regulating the response of tropical mean SST to global warming. In particular, in the MRI model, increased stratification associated with global warming amplified wind-driven advection within the mixed layer, leading to greater ENSO variability. On the other hand, in the GFDL model, wind-driven currents were weak, which resulted in mixed-layer dynamics being less sensitive to global warming. The relationship between MLD and ENSO was also examined. Results indicated that the non-linearity between the MLD and ENSO is enhanced from the control run to the 2 × CO₂ run in the MRI model, in contrast, the linear relationship between the MLD index and ENSO is unchanged despite an increase in CO₂ concentrations in the GFDL model.     

Recent changes of Mixed Layer Depth in the East/Japan Sea: 1994–2007

Recent changes of Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) in the East/Japan Sea (EJS) is investigated by using ocean reanalysis data. There is a significant shoaling of MLD in the southern EJS for 1994-2007, showing the change rate of - 1.24 m yr^?1. The present study demonstrates that the wind stress curl mostly attributes to the MLD changes. The long-term variation of wind stress curl with a positive trend in the southern EJS is generally well consistent with the MLD variation. In addition, upward displacement estimated from the wind stress curl reaches 14.6 m during 14 years, which is comparable to the shoaling of MLD (i.e., 17.4 m). Thus, the wind stress curl with positive trend would induce the increase of upward Ekman pumping which in turn lead to the shoaling of MLD. The change of temperature structure in the subsurface layer, that is shrinking and upward displacement of thermal layer from the reanalysis and observational data, also supports this conclusion.     

北太平洋混合层深度异常及其与中国夏季降水的关系

利用GODAS逐月混合层深度(mixed layer depth,MLD)资料和中国160站逐月降水资料,分析了北太平洋MLD多年平均气候及异常特征,进一步研究了其对中国夏季降水年际异常的影响.结果表明:1)北太平洋30 ～ 40°N之间混合层最深,冬、春季明显大于夏、秋季.2)日期线附近的北太平洋中部海域是各季MLD年际异常共同最显著区域;仅夏季MLD年际异常与ENSO存在一定关系;秋、冬和春季MLD还存在明显年代际异常特征.3)当前冬北太平洋西部及中部MLD加深时,次年黄河下游部分地区、黄淮、江淮及长江以南大部分地区(广西南部除外)降水将偏少;河套地区、内蒙东部及东北大部降水可能偏多.     

Effect of climate change on the thermal stratification of the baltic sea: a sensitivity experiment

The evolution in time of the thermal vertical stratification of the Baltic Sea in future climate is studied using a 3D ocean model. Comparing periods at the end of the twentieth and twenty first centuries we found a strong increase in stratification at the bottom of the mixed layer in the northern Baltic Sea. In order to understand the causes of this increase, a sensitivity analysis is performed. We found that the increased vertical stratification is explained by a major change in re-stratification during spring solely caused by the increase of the mean temperature. As in present climate winter temperatures in the Baltic are often below the temperature of maximum density, warming causes thermal convection. Re-stratification during the beginning of spring is then triggered by the spreading of freshwater. This process is believed to be important for the onset of the spring bloom. In future climate, temperatures are expected to be usually higher than the temperature of maximum density and thermally induced stratification will start without prior thermal convection. Thus, freshwater controlled re-stratification during spring is not an important process anymore. We employed a simple box model and used sensitivity experiments with the 3D ocean model to delineate the processes involved and to quantify the impact of changing freshwater supply on the thermal stratification in the Baltic Sea. It is suggested that these stratification changes may have an important impact on vertical nutrient fluxes and the intensity of the spring bloom in future climate of the Baltic Sea.     

Interannual variability of the Tropical Indian Ocean mixed layer depth

In the present study, interannual fluctuations of the mixed layer depth (MLD) in the tropical Indian Ocean are investigated from a long-term (1960–2007) eddy permitting numerical simulation and a new observational dataset built from hydrographic in situ data including Argo data (1969–2008). Both datasets show similar interannual variability patterns in relation with known climate modes and reasonable phase agreement in key regions. Due to the scarcity of the observational dataset, we then largely rely on the model to describe the interannual MLD variations in more detail. MLD interannual variability is two to four times smaller than the seasonal cycle. A large fraction of MLD interannual variations is linked to large-scale climate modes, with the exception of coastal and subtropical regions where interannual signature of small-scale structures dominates. The Indian Ocean Dipole is responsible for most variations in the 10°N–10°S band, with positive phases being associated with a shallow MLD in the equatorial and south-eastern Indian Ocean and a deepening in the south-central Indian Ocean. The El Niño signature is rather weak, with moderate MLD shoaling in autumn in the eastern Arabian Sea. Stronger than usual monsoon jets are only associated with a very modest MLD deepening in the southern Arabian Sea in summer. Finally, positive Indian Ocean Subtropical Dipoles are associated with a MLD deepening between 15 and 30°S. Buoyancy fluxes generally appear to dominate MLD interannual variations except for IOD-induced signals in the south-central Indian Ocean in autumn, where wind stirring and Ekman pumping dominate.     

Projected changes in the tropical Pacific Ocean of importance to tuna fisheries

Future physical and chemical changes to the ocean are likely to significantly affect the distribution and productivity of many marine species. Tuna are of particular importance in the tropical Pacific, as they contribute significantly to the livelihoods, food and economic security of island states. Changes in water properties and circulation will impact on tuna larval dispersal, preferred habitat distributions and the trophic systems that support tuna populations throughout the region. Using recent observations and ocean projections from the CMIP3 and preliminary results from CMIP5 climate models, we document the projected changes to ocean temperature, salinity, stratification and circulation most relevant to distributions of tuna. Under a business-as-usual emission scenario, projections indicate a surface intensified warming in the upper 400 m and a large expansion of the western Pacific Warm Pool, with most surface waters of the central and western equatorial Pacific reaching temperatures warmer than 29 °C by 2100. These changes are likely to alter the preferred habitat of tuna, based on present-day thermal tolerances, and in turn the distribution of spawning and foraging grounds. Large-scale shoaling of the mixed layer and increases in stratification are expected to impact nutrient provision to the biologically active layer, with flow-on trophic effects on the micronekton. Several oceanic currents are projected to change, including a strengthened upper equatorial undercurrent, which could modify the supply of bioavailable iron to the eastern Pacific.     

Role of external forcing on the seasonal and interannual variability of mixed layer depth over the Bay of Bengal using reanalysis datasets during 1980–2015

The monsoon reversal winds in different seasons and high influx of freshwater from various rivers make the Bay of Bengal (BoB) a unique region. Thus, the knowledge of the dynamics of the mixed layer over this region is very important to assess the climatic variation of the Indian subcontinent. A comprehensive study of the role of external forcing on the seasonal and interannual mixed layer depth (MLD) variability over the BoB is carried out for 36 years (1980–2015) using reanalysis products. A weak and strong seasonality of MLD is observed over the northern and the southern BoB (NBoB and SBoB) respectively. The partial correlation suggests that the net heat flux (Qnet) is the major contributor to the deepening of MLD over the NBoB, whereas the wind stress controls the deepening over the SBoB. The seasonal variability reveals the deepening of MLD during summer and winter monsoon and the shallowing during pre- and post-monsoon over the BoB. The relation of the interannual MLD variability and the different phases of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) reveals that the negative phase of IOD is associated with deeper MLD over BoB while the positive phase of IOD depicts shallower MLD. In addition, the opposing characteristic of MLD is highly prominent during October-December. This is majorly contributed by variations related to the second downwelling Kelvin and associated Rossby waves over BoB for the opposing phases of the IOD years.     

Simulation and Exploration of the Mechanisms Underlying the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Surface Mixed Layer Depth in a Large Shallow Lake

The aquatic eco-environment is significantly affected by temporal and spatial variation of the mixed layer depth(MLD) in large shallow lakes.In the present study,we simulated the three-dimensional water temperature of Taihu Lake with an unstructured grid with a finite-volume coastal ocean model(FVCOM) using wind speed,wind direction,short-wave radiation and other meteorological data measured during 13-18 August 2008.The simulated results were consistent with the measurements.The temporal and spatial distribution of the MLD and the possible relevant mechanisms were analyzed on the basis of the water temperature profile data of Taihu Lake.The results indicated that diurnal stratification might be established through the combined effect of the hydrodynamic conditions induced by wind and the heat exchange between air and water.Compared with the net heat flux,the changes of the MLD were delayed approximately two hours.Furthermore,there were significant spatial differences of the MLD in Taihu Lake due to the combined impact of thermal and hydrodynamic forces.Briefly,diurnal stratification formed relatively easily in Gonghu Bay,Zhushan Bay,Xukou Bay and East Taihu Bay,and the surface mixed layer was thin.The center of the lake region had the deepest surface mixed layer due to the strong mixing process.In addition,Meiliang Bay showed a medium depth of the surface mixed layer.Our analysis indicated that the spatial difference in the hydrodynamic action was probably the major cause for the spatial variation of the MLD in Taihu Lake.     

热带太平洋混合层深度的年际异常及其与中国夏季降水关系分析

利用Godas的逐月混合层深度(MLD)和中国160站逐月降水资料,分析热带太平洋混合层深度的季节变化及年际异常特征,初步探讨混合层深度异常与中国夏季降水异常的相关关系。结果表明:(1)赤道地区,东太平洋区域混合层最浅,中太平洋区域最深,且北半球秋冬季混合层比春夏季深;热带西北和西南太平洋在冬半球混合层深,夏半球浅。(2)赤道中、西太平洋混合层深度的年际异常终年都为大值区,北半球春(秋)季的热带西北太平洋(西南太平洋)也为年际异常大值区;7月年际异常最弱。(3)1、4和10月热带太平洋混合层深度年际异常与ENSO事件关系密切,在El Nio事件期间,热带太平洋东部及东北部混合层深度加深,西部及西南部减小。(4)热带太平洋混合层深度异常与中国夏季降水异常关系密切,这一关系也反映了El Nio事件与中国夏季降水的关系。即当秋冬季节发生El Nio事件时,来年El Nio事件衰减期的夏季长江中下游以南特别是洞庭湖、鄱阳湖的降水将显著偏多,江淮、华南南部降水偏少。     

Capturing the Atlantic cold tongue and coastal upwelling in an intermediate-level ocean model coupled to a regional climate model

Coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models are known to have difficulties simulating the cold tongue in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Here a regional climate model coupled to an intermediate-level mixed layer ocean model with Ekman dynamics is developed and used to better understand the seasonal evolution of the equatorial Atlantic cold tongue and upwelling off western Africa. Parameterization improvements are made to an earlier version of the ocean model to account for the variations in temperature and shearing stress at the base of the mixed layer. 90-km resolution sensitivity tests demonstrate that the development of the equatorial Atlantic cold tongue in the boreal spring/summer is captured only if seasonal variations in the temperature at the base of the ocean mixed layer are included. The development of cold temperatures off the northwest African coast in the late boreal winter/spring is found to be primarily associated with the net radiation balance as shortwave warming of the mixed layer is relatively low while latent cooling is relatively high yielding a net cooling of mixed layer temperatures, consistent with other studies. The westward extension of the Atlantic cold tongue is primarily due to the horizontal advection of cool water from the South Atlantic African coast. This coastal cooling is associated with vertical diffusion and vertical entrainment, while the vertical entrainment has a secondary and more localized role over the equatorial Atlantic.     

The effect of wind and temperature to phytoplankton biomass during blooming season in Barents Sea

The Barents Sea is the most productive sea in the Arctic. The main causes of phytoplankton spring blooms are studied for a decadal time period of 2003–2013 at the region of (70 °N-80 °N, 30 °E-40 °E) in Barents Sea. Due to the rapidly ice melt in the southern region (70 °N-75 °N), almost no ice left after year 2005, sea surface temperature (SST) and wind speed (WIND) are two main dominant factors influencing phytoplankton blooming in the southern region. Ice melt is another important factor of phytoplankton blooming in the northern region (75 °N–80 °N). SST and CHL had positive correlations during blooming season but negative correlations during summer time. The lower SST in spring could result in earlier blooming in the region. Higher SST and higher WIND could result in later blooming. Positive NAO after April 2013 caused higher SST in 2013. Increasing WIND would cause CHL reduced accordingly. Blooming period is from late April to late May in the southern region, and 1–2 weeks later in the northern region. During blooming season, SST was less than 4 °C and WIND was less than 10 m/s. The higher winds (over 15 m/s) in early spring would brought more nutrients from bottom to surface and cause higher blooming (near 10 mg/m³ in year 2010) after WIND is reduced to 5−8 m/s. Higher WIND (around 10 m/s) could generate longer blooming period (more than a week) during late May in the southern region. Decrease of WIND and increase of melting ice, with slightly increase of SST and decrease of mixed layer depth (MLD), are all the factors of phytoplankton blooming in late spring and early summer.     

BCC_CSM对全球海表温度和混合层深度的模拟评估

为了定量评估北京气候中心(BCC)发展的BCC_CSM对当代全球海表温度和混合层深度的模拟能力,以WOA09(World Ocean Atlas 2009)观测资料作为检验模式的气候态实况场,提取包括BCC_CSM在内的CMIP5中的17个海气耦合模式的模拟结果,评估BCC_CSM模拟的全球海表温度和混合层深度的气候平均态并分析造成偏差的可能原因。结果表明:BCC_CSM模拟的海表温度在北半球中高纬的误差较大,而在其余纬度的模拟性能较佳。偏差的产生主要归因于海洋环流偏差。BCC_CSM模拟的最深混合层在北半球中高纬和南半球高纬地区的误差较大,同时这些区域也是多模式模拟差异最大的区域;其模拟的最浅混合层在南半球中高纬的偏差较大。冬季大西洋经向翻转环流的模拟在北大西洋下沉的位置偏南导致北半球高纬地区海表温度偏冷。由此认为包括BCC_CSM在内的许多海气耦合模式需重点改进对南、北半球深对流海域物理过程的描述,以提高气候预测的可信度。     

On the Response of Subduction in the South Pacific to an Intensification of Westerlies and Heat Flux in an Eddy Permitting Ocean Model

Based on an eddy permitting ocean general circulation model, the response of water masses to two distinct climate scenarios in the South Pacific is assessed in this paper. Under annually repeating atmospheric forcing that is characterized by different westerlies and associated heat flux, the response of Subantarctic Mode Water(SAMW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water(AAIW) is quantitatively estimated. Both SAMW and AAIW are found to be warmer, saltier and denser under intensified westerlies and increased heat loss. The increase in the subduction volume of SAMW and AAIW is about 19.8 Sv(1 Sv =10~6m~3s~(-1)). The lateral induction term plays a dominant role in the changes in the subduction volume due to the deepening of the mixed layer depth(MLD). Furthermore, analysis of the buoyancy budget is used to quantitatively diagnose the reason for the changes in the MLD. The deepening of the MLD is found to be primarily caused by the strengthening of heat loss from the ocean to the atmosphere in the formation region of SAMW and AAIW.     

Future Changes in Biological Activity in the North Pacific Due to Anthropogenic Forcing of the Physical Environment

Many studies have examined the physical changes expected in the environment as a result of anthropogenic forcing. These physical changes will have an effect on ecosystems as well. In this study, a nitrogen-phytoplankton-zooplankton (NPZ) model is used to examine the effects of changes in the physical environment on primary productivity in the North Pacific ocean. The physical variables considered are mixed layer temperature and depth, solar insolation, and large-scale upwelling. The changes in these fields by the 2090s are taken from a coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model forced by projected atmospheric CO₂ and sulfates, then applied to the NPZ biological model. Theresult is a change in the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton and herbivore concentrations across the subpolar North Pacific, moving from a regime characterized by strong variability with low wintertime values and a spring bloom, to much more constant yearly values. A reduction of yearly-averaged primary productivity accompanies much of this shift to more constant year-round conditions. In other regions, productivity increases as warmer surface waters enable higher growth rates. Changes in mixed layer temperature and depth account for almost all the changes in productivity; model-predicted changes in surface insolation and large-scale upwelling have little impact.     

增温停滞背景下黑潮与湾流区域潜热通量年代际趋势变化差异及其成因分析

本文使用美国伍兹霍尔海洋研究所发布的客观分析海气通量项目数据集及日本海洋科学技术中心的Ishii次表层温盐数据,利用经验正交函数分析方法、小扰动展开、线性回归、海水热力学方程2010等方法,主要研究在增温停滞背景（1979～2000年,升温阶段;2001～2013年,停滞阶段）下,北半球两支西边界流区域即黑潮及其延伸区域（简称黑潮区域）和墨西哥湾流区域（简称湾流区域）海表潜热通量的年代际趋势转变和影响因子,以及内部热含量的年代际变化。结果表明,两支西边界流在增温停滞背景下都发生了年代际尺度的趋势反转,而反转的时间节点以及前后的反转趋势都不相同:黑潮区域潜热通量年代际趋势于2001年左右由正转负;而湾流区域潜热通量年代际趋势于1993年左右由负转正。其影响因子在前后阶段也有不同:通过影响海表饱和比湿进而影响海气比湿差,海表温度是影响黑潮区域全时间段以及湾流区域1993～2013年时间段潜热通量变化的主要因素;而风速通过直接的影响以及对空气湿度的影响也会对潜热通量变化产生间接影响,主要在湾流区域的1979～1992年时间段体现。黑潮及湾流区域0～1000 m海水热含量的年代际变化同样存在差异:黑潮区域表层热含量年代际变化同混合层一致;湾流区域表层热含量年代际变化同深层相异,而表层以下的变化较为一致;两个区域的深层热含量变化都体现了增温停滞的现象,黑潮区域可能存在下层至上层的影响;而湾流区域可能存在上层至下层的影响。黑潮与湾流区域表面的差异可以归结为海洋与大气因素的影响差异,而内部热含量年代际变化的垂直差异可能归结为两区域的结构差异。增温停滞对两区域的变化影响显著,而区域的变化可能存在对增温停滞的反馈。     

Air mass modification over Lake Michigan

The modification of a relatively cold air mass over the warm water of Lake Michigan is studied by using a two-dimensional nonlinear mesoscale model. Considerable amounts of heat and water vapor are supplied from the water surface to the lower atmosphere by turbulent eddies. A convective mixed layer develops and grows toward the downwind region with stratocumulus clouds over the lake.The model simulates the warming and moistening of the mixed layer, the development of a boundary layer, the divergence and convergence of wind near the coastlines, and the turbulent fluxes.The model warming of the mixed layer across the lake was about 2.2 °K and the moistening of the mixed layer was about 0.8 g kg^–1, which are comparable to 2.7 °K and 0.8 g kg^–1 observed by Lenschow (1973). The convective boundary layer, which includes the cloud layer, subcloud layer, and superadiabatic layer near the water surface, is well simulated. The tilt of the inversion which coincides with the cloud top is also well reproduced. When a prescribed cooling rate is applied at the cloud top, stronger turbulence and a deeper cloud layer are generated. Without the cooling, the cloud is shallow and the shape of the cloud base is determined by surface conditions. The rise of the inversion is due to upward vertical motion, and deepening of the convective layer in the downwind region.     

Regional Climate Effects of Internally and Externally Mixed Aerosols over China

A regional climate model is employed to simulate the aerosols(dust,sulfate,black carbon,and organic carbon) and their direct effect on the climate over China.The emphasis is on the direct radiative forcing due to the change in mixing state of aerosols.The results show that direct radiative forcing is significantly different between externally and internally mixed aerosols.At the top of the atmosphere(TOA),the radiative forcing of externally mixed aerosols is larger than that of internally mixed ones,especially in the Tarim desert region where the difference is about 0.7 W m 2.At the surface,however,the situation becomes opposite,especially in the Sichuan basin where the difference is about-1.4 W m 2.Nonetheless,either externally or internally mixed aerosols in China can result in a significant cooling effect,except for the warming in South China in winter and the slight warming in North China in February.The cooling effect induced by externally mixed aerosols is weaker than that induced by internally mixed aerosols,and this is more obvious in spring and winter than in summer and autumn.In spring and summer,the inhibiting effect of externally mixed aerosols on precipitation is less than that of internally mixed aerosols,whereas in autumn and winter the difference is not obvious.     

Predicting the time of green up in temperate and boreal biomes

Direct observations as well as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from satellites have shown earlier leaf appearance in the northern hemisphere, which is believed to result from climate warming. The advance of leaf out to earlier times in the year could be limited or even reversed, however, as temperate and boreal trees require a certain amount of chilling in winter for rapid leaf out in spring. If this chilling requirement is not fulfilled, an increasing amount of warming is required. Implications of these chilling requirements at the biome level are not clear. One approach to estimate their importance is to generalize the exponential relationships between chilling and warming established for single species. Previous work using NDVI data suggests that this is indeed feasible but much has been limited to specific biomes or a very few years of data for the modelling. We find chilling requirements for northern temperate and boreal biomes by fitting various phenology models to green-up dates determined from NDVI using various methods and 12 years of data. The models predict that in northern middle and high latitudes the advance of green-up will be limited to a total of 4 to 5 days on average (but up to 15 days regionally) over the time period 2000–2060 as estimated using two contrasting climate simulations. This results from the exponentially increasing warming requirements for leaf out when winter chilling falls below a threshold as shown by a comparison with models that consider only spring warming. The model evaluation suggests an element of regional adaptation of the warming required for leaf out in large biomes.     

The effect of Arabian Sea optical properties on SST biases and the South Asian summer monsoon in a coupled GCM

This study examines the effect of seasonally varying chlorophyll on the climate of the Arabian Sea and South Asian monsoon. The effect of such seasonality on the radiative properties of the upper ocean is often a missing process in coupled general circulation models and its large amplitude in the region makes it a pertinent choice for study to determine any impact on systematic biases in the mean and seasonality of the Arabian Sea. In this study we examine the effects of incorporating a seasonal cycle in chlorophyll due to phytoplankton blooms in the UK Met Office coupled atmosphere-ocean GCM HadCM3. This is achieved by performing experiments in which the optical properties of water in the Arabian Sea—a key signal of the semi-annual cycle of phytoplankton blooms in the region—are calculated from a chlorophyll climatology derived from Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) data. The SeaWiFS chlorophyll is prescribed in annual mean and seasonally-varying experiments. In response to the chlorophyll bloom in late spring, biases in mixed layer depth are reduced by up to 50% and the surface is warmed, leading to increases in monsoon rainfall during the onset period. However when the monsoons are fully established in boreal winter and summer and there are strong surface winds and a deep mixed layer, biases in the mixed layer depth are reduced but the surface undergoes cooling. The seasonality of the response of SST to chlorophyll is found to depend on the relative depth of the mixed layer to that of the anomalous penetration depth of solar fluxes. Thus the inclusion of the effects of chlorophyll on radiative properties of the upper ocean acts to reduce biases in mixed layer depth and increase seasonality in SST.     

On the Response of the Global Subduction Rate to Global Warming in Coupled Climate Models简

The response of the global subduction rate to global warming was assessed based on a set of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC） Fourth Assessment Report （AR4） models. It was found that the subduction rate of the global ocean could be significantly reduced under a warming climate, as compared to a simulation of the present-day climate. The reduction in the subduction volume was quantitatively estimated at about 40 Sv and was found to be= primarily induced by the decreasing of the lateral induction term due to a shallower winter mixed layer depth. The shrinking of the winter mixed layer would result from intensified stratification caused by increased heat input into the ocean under a warming climate. A reduction in subduction associated with the vertical pumping term was estimated at about 5 Sv. F~rther, in the Southern Ocean, a significant reduction in subduction was estimated at around 24 Sv, indicating a substantial contribution to the weakening of global subduction.