Decadal variability of the Kuroshio Extension: mesoscale eddies and recirculations

An eddy-resolving multidecadal ocean model hindcast simulation is analyzed to investigate time-varying signals of the two recirculation gyres present respectively to the north and south of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) jet. The northern recirculation gyre (NRG), which has been detected at middepth recently by profiling float and moored current meter observations, is a major focus of the present study. Low-frequency variations in the intensity of the recirculation gyres are overall highly correlated with decadal variations of the KE jet induced by the basin-wide wind change. Modulation of the simulated mesoscale eddies and its relationship with the time-varying recirculation gyres are also evaluated. The simulated eddy kinetic energy in the upstream KE region is inversely correlated with the intensity of the NRG, consistent with previous observational studies. Eddy influence on the low-frequency modulation of the NRG intensity at middepth is further examined by a composite analysis of turbulent Sverdrup balance, assuming a potential vorticity balance between the mean advection and the convergent eddy fluxes during the different states of the recirculation gyre. The change in the NRG intensity is adequately explained by that inferred by the turbulent Sverdrup balance, suggesting that the eddy feedback triggers the low-frequency modulation of the NRG intensity at middepth.     

冬季大气斜压性对黑潮延伸体年代际异常响应的维持机制研究

黑潮延伸体（Kuroshio Extension,KE）海域附近具有强烈的大气斜压性可显著影响北太平洋上空风暴轴异常,因而有必要研究KE海区附近斜压性的特征和维持机制.本文设计数值试验并结合高分辨率ERA-Interim资料研究了大气斜压性对KE年代际海温变率模态（KEDV-induced SSTA,Kuroshio Extension Decadal variability SSTA）中的中尺度海洋锋（KEDV-induced Meso-scale SST Front,KMSTF）的响应特征和维持机制.研究发现,表层斜压性对KMSTF的响应分布相对KMSTF经向梯度的分布偏南,平流过程的响应起主要作用.表层感热通量的响应相对KMSTF分布偏北,表层温度的响应分布与KMSTF分布的位相差异是导致其偏北分布的主要原因.积云对流过程、垂直热量输送和月内尺度扰动向极热量输送均可削弱表层斜压性,而感热通量加热可加强表层斜压性.研究对流层斜压性的特征发现,斜压大值随高度向北移动,极值在边界层顶附近,积云动量再分配影响的月内尺度扰动通量经向辐合有一定的贡献.同时,相对KMSTF暖海温异常偏南分布的低SLP（Surface Level Pressure）可引发经圈平面内次级环流,并将月内尺度扰动热量、水汽和动量向高纬度输送,从而引起斜压性随高度向北分布并增强斜压性.此外还发现,积云对流过程引发的非绝热加热通过扰动热力作用使高层急流向北偏移.

     

Vertical coupling and dynamical source for the intraseasonal variability in the deep Kuroshio Extension

Ocean Dynamics - In the power spectrum, the upper and deep parts of the Kuroshio Extension have distinctly different peaks. The former peaks around 200 days, while the latter is mainly at the...     

Response of atmospheric circulation to multiscale SST anomaly associated with Kuroshio Extension decadal variability warming in winter

The response of atmospheric circulation to sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) of different scales in extra-tropical oceans has always been a popular issue i...     

The Kuroshio Extension: a leading mechanism for the seasonal sea-level variability along the west coast of Japan

Sea level changes coherently along the two coasts of Japan on the seasonal timescale. Archiving, validation, and interpretation of satellite oceanographic altimetry data and ocean general circulation model for the Earth Simulator results indicate that the variation propagates clockwise from Japan’s east coast through the Tsushima Strait into the Japan/East Sea (JES) and then northward along the west coast. In this study, we hypothesize and test numerically that the sea-level variability along the west coast of Japan is remotely forced by the Kuroshio Extension (KE) off the east coast. Topographic Rossby waves and boundary Kelvin waves facilitate the connection. Our 3D Princeton Ocean Model when forced by observed wind stress reproduces well the seasonal changes in the vicinity of JES. Two additional experiments were conducted to examine the relative roles of remote forcing and local forcing. The sea-level variability inside the JES was dramatically reduced when the Tsushima Strait is blocked in one experiment. The removal of the local forcing, in another experiment, has little effect on the JES variability. Both experiments support our hypothesis that the open-ocean forcing, possibly through the KE variability, is the leading forcing mechanism for sea-level change along the west coast of Japan.     

Mesoscale eddy variability in the Caribbean Sea

Ocean Dynamics - The spatial distribution, and the monthly and seasonal variability of mesoscale eddy observations derived from the AVISO eddy atlas are assessed in the Caribbean Sea during...     

Nutrient interleaving below the mixed layer of the Kuroshio Extension Front

Nitrate interleaving structures were observed below the mixed layer during a cruise to the Kuroshio Extension in October 2009. In this paper, we investigate the formation mechanisms for these vertical nitrate anomalies, which may be an important source of nitrate to the oligotrphoc surface waters south of the Kuroshio Extension Front. We found that nitrate concentrations below the main stream of the Kuroshio Extension were elevated compared to the ambient water of the same density (σ _?? = 23.5–25). This appears to be analogous to the “nutrient stream” below the mixed layer, associated with the Gulf Stream. Strong turbulence was observed above the vertical nitrate anomaly, and we found that this can drive a large vertical turbulent nitrate flux \(>\mathcal {O}\) (1 mmol N m^?2 day^?1). A realistic, high-resolution (2 km) numerical simulation reproduces the observed Kuroshio nutrient stream and nitrate interleaving structures, with similar lateral and vertical scales. The model results suggest that the nitrate interleaving structures are first generated at the western side of the meander crest on the south side of the Kuroshio Extension, where the southern tip of the mixed layer front is under frontogenesis. Lagrangian analyses reveal that the vertical shear of geostrophic and subinertial ageostrophic flow below the mixed layer tilts the existing along-isopycnal nitrate gradient of the Kuroshio nutrient stream to form nitrate interleaving structures. This study suggests that the multi-scale combination of (i) the lateral stirring of the Kuroshio nutrient stream by developed mixed layer fronts during fall to winter, (ii) the associated tilting of along-isopycnal nitrate gradient of the nutrient stream by subinertial shear, which forms vertical interleaving structures, and (iii) the strong turbulent diffusion above them, may provide a route to supply nutrients to oligotrophic surface waters on the south side of the Kuroshio Extension.     

Detailed structure of the Kuroshio frontal eddy along the shelf edge of the East China Sea

The detailed three-dimensional structure of the Kuroshio frontal eddy along the shelf edge of the East China Sea is revealed by the CTD, ADCP, and satellite-tracked drifter observations. The length and width of the cold core of the Kuroshio frontal eddy are about 60 and 40 km, respectively, and its phase speed is about 30 cm s^-1. The calculated buoy tracks with the use of the observed ADCP data well reproduce the observed tracks of satellite-tracked drifters around the frontal eddy. The observed maximum horizontal velocity around this frontal eddy are 40 cm s^-1 and the center of this eddy shifts offshore in the deep layer. Nutrient is advected onshore across the shelf edge by passing of this frontal eddy while it is advected offshore without the frontal eddy at the shelf edge.     

Temporal and spatial statistics of travelling eddy variability in the South China Sea

Ocean Dynamics - The variability across decades of years of migrating eddy activities in the South China Sea (SCS) has not yet been documented. We employ a daily global eddy-resolving (0.1°)...     

Ocean eddy momentum fluxes at the latitudes of the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio extensions as revealed by satellite data

Eddy momentum fluxes, i.e. Reynold stresses, are computed for the latitude bands of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio extensions using 13 years of data from the merged satellite altimeter product of Le Traon et al. The spatial pattern and amplitude of the fluxes is remarkably similar to that found by Ducet and Le Traon using the 5 years of data that were available to them. In addition to updating the work of Ducet and Le Traon, we provide new insight into the role played by the underlying variable bottom topography, both for determining the structure of the eddy momentum fluxes seen in the satellite data and for influencing the way these fluxes feedback on the mean flow. While there is no clear evidence that eddies locally flux momentum into the eastward jets of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio extensions, a clearer picture emerges after zonally integrating across each of the North Atlantic and North Pacific basins. We argue that the eddy momentum fluxes do indeed drive significant transport, a conclusion supported by preliminary results from a 3-D model calculation. We also present evidence that in the North Pacific, the Reynolds stresses are important for driving the recirculation gyres associated with the Kuroshio extension, taking advantage of new data from both observations and high-resolution model simulations.     

Seasonal variability of the complementary relationship in the Asian monsoon region

The complementary relationship (CR) between potential evaporation (LE_p) and actual evaporation (LE) is widely used to explain the evaporation paradox and to estimate LE, in which wet environment evaporation (LE_w) is usually calculated using the Priestley–Taylor equation. However, in many studies on the CR, it has been found that the Priestley–Taylor parameter α is not a constant. Through seasonal variation of α for estimating LE_w in the CR, this paper analyses its seasonal variability. Based on flux observation data at two flux experiment sites (Kogma in Thailand and Weishan in China) in the Asian monsoon region, seasonal variability of the CR is detected, i.e. the α value is larger in winter than in summer. This seasonal variability might be caused by seasonal variability in the transport of water vapor and sensible heat between oceans and continent. The monsoon increases air humidity and lowers air temperature in summer, which leads to a decrease in α; it increases atmospheric air temperature and vapor content in winter, increasing α. Nevertheless, during May–September, α has a range of 1.06–1.16 at the Kogma site and 1.00–1.36 at the Weishan site, which is approximate to the typical range 1.1–1.4. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal variability of tides in the deep northern South China Sea

Tides are the major energy source for ocean mixing, regulating the variation of oceanic circulation and sediment transport in the deep sea. Here twenty months of high-resolution current profiles, which were observed via a mooring system at a water depth of 2100 m in the northern South China Sea(SCS), are used to investigate seasonal variability in deep-sea tides.Spectral analysis shows that tides in this region are dominated by diurnal tide, and both diurnal and semidiurnal tide are vertical mode-1 dominant. Baroclinic diurnal tidal current exhibits pronounced seasonal variability, showing its kinetic energy was the strongest in summer, and the maximum depth-averaged value was up to 86.7 cm~2 s~(-2), which was about 1.5 times of that in winter and twice that in spring and autumn. In contrast, baroclinic semidiurnal tide displays no evident seasonal variability. Such seasonal variability in baroclinic tide was mainly modulated by the barotropic forcing from the Luzon Strait. On the other hand,two anticyclonic eddies and one cyclonic eddy, which originated off southwestern Taiwan in winter, crossed the mooring system.The cyclonic eddy had weak impact on current velocity in the deep sea, but the two deep-reaching anticyclonic eddies enhanced the current velocity through the full-water column by inducing strong subinertial flows. Consequently, the kinetic energy of tides was strengthened and the incoherent variance of baroclinic diurnal tide increased in winter, which contributed ～85% of the variability in diurnal tide. Meanwhile, the velocity of baroclinic diurnal tide was reduced in winter, which was attributed to the weakened stratification induced by the passage of anticyclonic eddies in the deep sea. The seasonal variability of tides in the deep northern SCS can provide a dynamic mechanism for interpreting sediment transport processes in the deep sea on different time scales.     

南海北部深海潮汐的季节性变化特征

深海潮汐是深海混合过程的主要能量来源,对深海环流变异和沉积物搬运具有重要的调控作用.文章利用深水锚系观测系统在南海北部2100m水深处开展了近两年的高分辨率海流剖面观测,用于研究深海潮汐的季节性变化特征.通过谱分析显示,南海北部深海潮汐以全日潮为主,且在观测区域的深海中,全日潮和半日潮以垂向第一模态结构为主.斜压全日潮具有显著的季节性变化特征,夏季最强,深度平均的最大动能达86.7cm2s-2,分别是冬季的1.5倍、春秋季的2倍;而斜压半日潮没有明显的季节性变化.通过对比发现斜压全日潮的季节性变化受控于吕宋海峡附近的正压潮.另外,观测期间有三个强中尺度涡经过锚系站位,其中一个气旋式中尺度涡对深海海流影响较小,而另外两个反气旋式中尺度涡经过研究海域时可影响全水深海流,激发强亚惯性流,对深海潮汐产生边缘强化效应,并使深海斜压全日潮冬季的异相成分增强,占全日潮的85%.同时,中尺度涡对深海海水混合的增强弱化了海水层结,导致冬季的斜压全日潮流速减弱,低于夏季.南海北部深海潮汐季节性变化为研究深海盆沉积物在不同时间尺度上的分布及搬运过程提供了重要的动力机制.     

Seasonal and interannual thermohaline variability in the Guaymas Basin of the Gulf of California

Temperature and salinity data for the years 1939–1983 are used to investigate seasonal and interannual scales of the hydrographic variability across the Guaymas Basin, which is located between 27° and 28°N in the Central Gulf of California. Winter conditions extend from December to April and summer conditions from June to October, with transition periods in May and November. Sea surface temperature increases from about 16°C in February–March to 31°C in August. No clear seasonal cycle in surface salinity was found. Typical values are above 35.1‰ even in winter, and up to 35.5‰ in November.Relatively cold and low salinity near-surface waters observed in June 1957 and in June 1982, suggest advection of California Current Water to the Guaymas Basin. Subtropical Subsurface Water may occur around the year, but is obscured by vertical mixing with Gulf Water mainly during winter, when vertical stratification is weaker. The Intermediate and Deep Pacific Water masses successively fill the Guaymas Basin to the bottom (2000 m), showing very stable T-S characteristics.Positive sea level anomalies at Guaymas increases during El Nin˜o years, and anomalous low salinity and high temperature at the surface indicate the presence in the Guaymas Basin of water from the south. Observed differences reached 0.4‰ in surface salinity and 3°–5°C in surface temperature. There is evidence that the observed low salinities could not be due to abundant precipitation. An additional effect is a deepening of the winter pycnocline down about 200 m, compared to the usual depth of <100 m. In summer, this effect is not as clear as in winter, due to the strong stratification. The effects of the very strong 1982–1983 and 1957–1958 ENSO episodes may have lasted for one and two years, respectively. It is argued that during an ENSO event the Transition Water of the California Current meet and mix near the Gulf entrance with the Tropical Surface Water of the Costa Rica Coastal Current. This mixed water could have been carried north into the Gulf by local surface circulation. In 1983 it was found at the surface in the Guaymas Basin above the southeastward flow of the colder and saltier Gulf Water.     

Seasonal variability of the carbon export in the central South China Sea

Ocean Dynamics - The South China Sea (SCS) is strongly influenced by the East Asian monsoon system with seasonal reversal. Measurements from a 7-year continuous sediment trap located in the central...     

Seasonal flooding in Bangladesh – variability and predictability

At present, Bangladesh has a flood forecasting lead time of only 3 days or so. There is demand for a forecasting lead time of a month to a season. The primary objectives of this paper are to study the variability and predictability of seasonal flooding in Bangladesh, as revealed by large‐scale predictors of the climate across the watersheds. To explore the source of predictability, accessible Bangladesh hydrological indicators are related to large‐scale oceanic variability and to large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns predicted by general circulation models (GCMs). Correlation analyses between the flood‐affected area (FAA) for July–September and tropical sea‐surface temperature (SST) indicate connections to tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean SSTs, at a short lead time of a month or so. These are related to El Niño–southern oscillation (ENSO). Correlations between the SSTs of the preceding October–December and the July–September FAA are weaker but notable. Forecasts of the FAA using the leading principal components (PCs) of SST were made, which provided good skill with a lead time of a month or so. The streamflows and rainfall observed in Bangladesh have been added to these prediction models. Finally, the SST PCs were replaced with PCs of GCM prediction fields (precipitation). The prediction models at short lead time that were constructed for FAA were of generally similar levels of skill to that for SST. This is encouraging, as it suggests that linkages with SST can be successfully recovered in a physical model of the climate system in Bangladesh. This study concludes that seasonal flood prediction in Bangladesh is possible from the unusually warm or cold SST in parts of the tropics. This predictability can be enhanced with the information achievable from monitoring the downstream streamflows (which are generated mainly from upstream rainfall conditions) in advance of the flooding season. Finally, this study recommends formalizing a regional cooperation among the countries in the principal co‐basin areas of the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna to achieve this goal. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal and inter-annual variability of water quality in the Uruguay River,Argentina

Abstract

Water quality of the Uruguay River was evaluated with multi-parametric (temperature, turbidity, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen) and sediment trap data (particle flux, total organic carbon and nitrogen contents) and correlated to precipitation, river discharge and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices for the period 2006–2011. Hydro-meteorological parameters averaged 24–85% variability with coincident precipitation (200–400 mm month^-1), discharge (7000–28 000 m³ s^-1) and turbidity peaks (50–80 NTU) in the austral spring, and absolute maxima during the El Niño 2009 episode. Spectral analysis of discharge and sea-surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) showed consistent variance maxima at approx. 3 and 1.5 years. Deseasonalized discharge was significantly correlated to SSTA. During river floods, pH decreased (from 7.5 to 6.6) and particle dynamics peaked (turbidity: 15–80 NTU; vertical fluxes: 20–200 g m^-2 d^-1; total solid load: <1000 to 100 000 t d^-1),whereas TOC remained stable (3.2 ± 0.8%) and C/N ratios increased (10–12) due to the higher contribution of terrestrial detritus.