Modeling the mesoscale variability in the Adriatic Sea

A new high-resolution (<2 km) version of the DieCAST fourth-accuracy-order model for the ocean circulation is proposed for the study of the general circulation, mesoscale structures, and their variability in the Adriatic Sea. The model uses mean seasonal data on the temperature, salinity, buoyancy fluxes, and wind. The data of the COAMPS system with a 4-km resolution were used for the simulation of the sea response to the effects of various winds: Sirocco, Maestro, and two types of boras. The mean monthly runoffs from 38 rivers and mean daily runoffs from 12 main rivers throughout the year were given in the model. The conditions at the open boundary of the Strait of Otranto were given on the basis of the hierarchy of two coarser models for the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas. Due to the extremely weak dissipation and the high resolution (the mesh size is less than the baroclinic radius of deformation, 5–10 km), the model allows one to trace the development of a baroclinic instability along the Italian coast, to simulate mesoscale structures associated with the instability, and to estimate the scales of the structures. Mesoscale filaments, meanders, mushroom-like currents, fronts, and intrusions known from satellite observations were simulated and explained. The scenario of the anomalous upwelling near the Italian coast observed in the summer of 2003 was also simulated and analyzed.     

Linkages among halocline variability,shelf-basin interaction,and wind regimes in the Beaufort Sea demonstrated in pan-Arctic Ocean modeling framework

To address the mechanisms controlling halocline variability in the Beaufort Sea, the relationship between halocline shoaling/deepening and surface wind fields on seasonal to decadal timescales was investigated in a numerical experiment. Results from a pan-Arctic coupled sea ice-ocean model demonstrate reasonable performances for interannual and decadal variations in summer sea ice extent in the entire Arctic and in freshwater content in the Canada Basin. Shelf-basin interaction associated with Pacific summer and winter transport depends on basin-scale wind patterns and can have a significant influence on halocline variability in the southern Beaufort Sea. The eastward transport of fresh Pacific summer water along the northern Alaskan coast and Ekman downwelling north of the shelf break are commonly enhanced by cyclonic wind in the Canada Basin. On the other hand, basin-wide anti-cyclonic wind induces Ekman upwelling and blocks the eastward current in the Beaufort shelf-break region. Halocline shoaling/deepening due to shelf-water transport and surface Ekman forcing consequently occur in the same direction. North of the Barrow Canyon mouth, the springtime down-canyon transport of Pacific winter water, which forms by sea ice production in the Alaskan coastal polynya, thickens the halocline layer. The model result indicates that the penetration of Pacific winter water prevents the local upwelling of underlying basin water to the surface layer, especially in basin-scale anti-cyclonic wind periods.     

海洋岛附近海域春季海洋水文测量结果分析

利用2006年4月在海洋岛附近海域的CTD测量资料,系统分析了该海域温度、盐度、密度和声速的平面分布和垂直分布特征,并探讨了其形成机理。分析指出:4月份是海洋岛附近海域季节性跃层的生成期,海区会产生正跃层、逆跃层、冷中间层、暖中间层等复杂的垂直结构;中间层和底层水文要素受海流的影响较大,而表层水文要素主要受海面风场和气温的影响。     

Monthly mean sea level variability along the west coast of southern Africa

Principal components analysis was used to examine monthly data on sea level obtained from tide-gauge records from the west coast of southern Africa over the period 1957—1975. After a simple correction had removed the effect of local atmospheric pressure, this statistical analysis revealed the structure of nearshore ocean variability over time periods of months to years. The first principal component, accounting for over 55 per cent of the variability in monthly mean sea level, was a near uniform rise and fall everywhere along the west coast of southern Africa. The spectrum of this large-scale structure showed a strong interannual trend, which correlated well with long-term trends of temperature anomaly over the entire South-East Atlantic, and a high-frequency term, which could not be resolved at a time period of one month. The second principal component showed the contrasting response of the northern and southern sites on a seasonal scale, and it could be correlated with seasonal wind data. These results compared well with similar analysis carried out in the North Pacific Ocean.     

南沙群岛海域混合层深度季节变化特征

基于南沙群岛海域综合科学考察11个航次的实测资料,研究了南沙群岛海域的混合层深度季节变化特征。研究结果表明,南沙群岛海域混合层深度存在明显的季节变化,并且与季风和海表热通量的变化密切相关。春季,风速较小且风向不稳定,海面得到的净热通量全年最大,上层水体层结稳定,混合层深度较小;夏季,南海西南季风盛行,上层为反气旋式环流,海面得到的净热通量减少,混合层呈加深的趋势;秋季,海面净热通量继续减少,混合层深度达到最大值;冬季,东北季风驱动下形成的上层气旋式环流引起深层冷水的上升,限制了混合层的加深。     

黄东海大气边界层高度季节变化特征及其成因

利用CFSR再分析资料,采用EOF的分析方法统计分析了黄东海边界层高度的季节变化特征,探讨了2个模态的分布型以及与之相联系的下垫面热通量和垂直环流,统计了ICOADS资料中近30a逐月低云发生频率和海雾发生频率,揭示了其与边界层高度分布特征的一致性。结果表明:盛行风的平流作用与下垫面特征相结合造成的低空稳定性的变化是黄东海边界层高度时间上夏季低、冬季高,空间上呈现东高西低、南高北低的重要因素。EOF分析中第一模态表现为整个黄东海区域具有一致性,主要是大尺度环流的影响;第二模态为春秋相反的2个分布型,与海洋锋、冷舌以及暖水团的季节变化有着密切关系。黄东海大气边界层高度的最大值出现时间以及其大小在空间上较为一致,而最小值以黄东海海洋锋为界,向北逐渐减小,以南差异性不大,出现时间上有较大的差异。,这主要由黄东海冷舌、暖水团以及海洋锋的季节变化所引起对边界层经向分布影响较大所引起的。春夏季节,南部(西部)低云发生频率高于北部(东部),海雾发生频率低于北部(东部);海雾高频区对应较低边界层高度,而低云高频区对应相对较高边界层高度。     

Decadal Climatic Anomalies in the Northern Adriatic Sea Inferred from a New Oceanographic Data Set

Abstract. In 1997, Artegiani et al. depicted for the first time the seasonal climatology of the Adriatic Sea; they used the ATOS data set, formed by 5540 oceanographic stations sampled over this continental basin from 1911 to 1980. Lately, two Italian institutes working on the Adriatic Sea for long time, IBM and IRPEM, merged their recent data sets for the northernmost part of the basin. This yielded 3600 new oceanographic stations, concentrated in an area where 809 ATOS stations were located. The new data were quality checked, and then a seasonal climatology was drawn up as a first analysis step. The new climatology differed significantly from the ATOS results; this could be explained, at least partially, by the climatic changes that have occurred on this area. For example, air temperature increased significantly over northern Italy starting from 1988. Variations of the observed air temperature and Po River runoff qualitatively agree with sea surface temperature and salinity variations. A preliminary computation of heat fluxes based on ECMWF reanalysis confirms an increased heat flux to the Northern Adriatic Sea starting from 1988.     

春夏季季风转换期南海南部的异常表层水

对1985－1998年期间的海洋调查温盐深（CTD）资料进行综合分析，发现南海南部春夏季季风转换期存在盐度逆转的异常表层水。实测资料表明，该异常表层水覆盖在南海南部的中部、东部大部分地区。冬季风停止引起苏禄海高温高超国水西向侵入，成为该海区东部近表面异常高盐水的来源之一。海面强的蒸发和表层水弱的垂向混合导致近表面水具有高盐特性，近表面高盐水与其下部保持着冬季遗存的局地低盐水叠置，形成了盐度逆转现象。     

A Numerical Modeling of the Upper and the Intermediate Layer Circulation in the East Sea

Circulation in the upper and the intermediate layer of the East Sea is investigated by using a fine resolution, ocean general circulation model. Proper separation of the East Korean Warm Current from the coast is achieved by adopting the isopycnal mixing, and using the observed heat flux (Hirose et al., 1996) and the realistic wind stress (Na et al., 1992). The simulated surface circulation exhibits a remarkable seasonal variation in the flow patterns of the Nearshore Branch, the East Korean Warm Current and the Cold Currents. East of the Oki Bank, the Nearshore Branch follows the isobath of shelf topography from late winter to spring, while in summer and autumn it meanders offshore. The Nearshore Branch is accompanied by cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies in a fully developed meandering phase. The meandering and the eddy formation of the Nearshore Branch control the interior circulation in the Tsushima Current area. A recirculation gyre is developed in the region of the East Korean Warm Current in spring and grown up to an Ulleung Basin scale in summer. A subsurface water is mixed with the fresh surface water by winter convection in the northeastern coastal region of Korea. The well-mixed low salinity water is transported to the south by the Cold Currents, forming the salinity minimum layer (Intermediate Water) beneath the East Korean Warm Current water. The recirculation gyre redistributes the core water of the salinity minimum layer in the Ulleung Basin. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Upper ocean high resolution regional modeling of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

In this paper, effort is made to demonstrate the quality of high-resolution regional ocean circulation model in realistically simulating the circulation and variability properties of the northern Indian Ocean(10°S–25°N,45°–100°E) covering the Arabian Sea(AS) and Bay of Bengal(BoB). The model run using the open boundary conditions is carried out at 10 km horizontal resolution and highest vertical resolution of 2 m in the upper ocean.The surface and sub-surface structure of hydrographic variables(temperature and salinity) and currents is compared against the observations during 1998–2014(17 years). In particular, the seasonal variability of the sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, and surface currents over the model domain is studied. The highresolution model's ability in correct estimation of the spatio-temporal mixed layer depth(MLD) variability of the AS and BoB is also shown. The lowest MLD values are observed during spring(March-April-May) and highest during winter(December-January-February) seasons. The maximum MLD in the AS(BoB) during December to February reaches 150 m (67 m). On the other hand, the minimum MLD in these regions during March-April-May becomes as low as 11–12 m. The influence of wind stress, net heat flux and freshwater flux on the seasonal variability of the MLD is discussed. The physical processes controlling the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature are investigated by carrying out mixed layer heat budget analysis. It is found that air-sea fluxes play a dominant role in the seasonal evolution of sea surface temperature of the northern Indian Ocean and the contribution of horizontal advection, vertical entrainment and diffusion processes is small. The upper ocean zonal and meridional volume transport across different sections in the AS and BoB is also computed. The seasonal variability of the transports is studied in the context of monsoonal currents.     

PN断面东海黑潮的地转经验模态分析

基于东海PN断面近50年的历史水文数据,本文中作者应用一种斜压流函数空间投影的方法分析冲绳海槽北部黑潮水团的季节性和年代际变异.诊断生成的地转经验模态(GEM)显示黑潮中层水的盐度在夏季相对较低,春季达到最高.通过比较1987年之后CTD数据生成的GEM场与1987年之前BOttle数据生成的GEM场,得以证实黑潮的年代际变化特征,即黑潮表层水近20年来温度升高而盐度减小,同时发现黑潮热带水具有盐度增加而中层水具有盐度减小的趋势.     

Variability of Sea Surface Circulation in the Japan Sea

Composite sea surface dynamic heights (CSSDH) are calculated from both sea surface dynamic heights that are derived from altimetric data of ERS-2 and mean sea surface that is calculated by a numerical model. The CSSDH are consistent with sea surface temperature obtained by satellite and observed water temperature. Assuming the geostrophic balance, sea surface current velocities are calculated. It is found that temporal and spatial variations of sea surface circulation are considerably strong. In order to examine the characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of current pattern, EOF analysis is carried out with use of the CSSDH for 3.5 years. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 1 indicate the strength or weakness of sea surface circulation over the entire Japan Sea associated with seasonal variation of volume transport through the Tsushima Strait. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 2 mostly indicate the temporal variation of the second branch of the Tsushima Warm Current and the East Korean Warm Current. It is suggested that this variation is possibly associated with the seasonal variation of volume transport through the west channel of the Tsushima Strait. Variations of mode 3 indicate the interannual variability in the Yamato Basin.     

关于黑潮延伸体海域水体的三维热结构时-空变化特征研究

基于西北太平洋Argo数据资料,利用参数化方法,从Argo温盐剖面数据中提取出一系列特征动力参数,定量分析黑潮延伸体海域水体的三维热结构的时-空变化特征、季节变化特征及其与地形和环流的关系.结果表明:黑潮延伸体海域水体的海表面温度存在着明显的冬春弱,夏秋强的季节变化特征,冬季平均海表面温度为15℃,夏季则达到了27℃;...     

热带印度洋降水、蒸发的时空特征及其对海表盐度的影响

本文利用降水、蒸发等资料分析热带印度洋年降水量、蒸发量、净淡水通量的分布特征,并选取4个典型海域来分析降水量、蒸发量、净淡水通量的季节变化和年际变化。结果表明:东印度洋的苏门答腊岛西部海域年降水量最大,季节变化较小,属全年降雨型;孟加拉湾的东北部和安达曼海的北部海域年降水量较大,其年际变化以4.2 mm/a的速率增长,强降水出现在5-9月;阿拉伯海的西部海域年降水量较小;南印度洋东部（20°~30°S,80°~110°E）海域年降水量较小,年蒸发量较大,年蒸发量在2000年之前以5.1 mm/a的速率增长,之后以4.5 mm/a的速率减小。本文还采用Argo盐度等资料探讨降水、蒸发对海表盐度的影响,研究结果表明:降水量远大于蒸发量的海域,海表盐度较低;降水量远小于蒸发量的海域,海表盐度较高。表层水平环流是导致高净淡水通量中心与低盐中心并不重合的主要原因,也是导致强蒸发中心与高盐中心并不重合的主要原因。选取的4个典型海域海表盐度的季节变化与净淡水通量关系不大,而是与表层水平环流有关。孟加拉湾强降水对表层盐度的影响显著,强降水发生后表层盐度降低0.2~0.8,其影响深度为30~50 m。     

Seasonal and interannual variability of Black Sea hydrophysical fields reconstructed from 1971–1993 reanalysis data

We pioneered a retrospective analysis of Black Sea hydrophysical fields for the period from 1971 to 1993. We describe a reanalysis algorithm based on the assimilation (in a σ-coordinate circulation model) of observed temperature and salinity data obtained on hydrophysical test areas. The thickness of the cold intermediate layer (CIL) and its freezing capacity for 1985 to 1993 were found to be increasing. At the levels of 0, 50, 75, and 100 m, the tendency of variations in annual values of level-averaged temperature is negative. At the level of 200 m and deeper, the linear trends of the interannual course of temperature are positive. We found that the linear trends of interannual variations in salinity are negative in the upper layer of 0 to 50 m and positive at 75 m and deeper. The sea-water circulation in the layer from 0 to 300 m was observed to be maximum in February–March and minimum in September–October. The characteristic of the linear trend of interannual variations in the kinetic energy of currents averaged over the sea surface is negative, while its value is positive in the layer from 50 to 100 m. Some factors responsible for the formation of hydrophysical fields in the sea and their seasonal and interannual variations were indicated. We revealed that there is a qualitative resemblance between seasonal and interannual variations [4, 26] in temperature, salinity, and kinetic energy.     

Multiparameter cluster analysis of seasonal variation of water masses in the eastern Beibu Gulf

Using the hierarchical clustering method, we present comprehensive analyses of water masses and their seasonal variations based on substantial in situ observations in the eastern Beibu Gulf, a shallow sea with a depth mostly less than 100 m. Besides traditional physical parameters (salinity and temperature), chemical and biological parameters are also used for the water mass classification and analyses, which include dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, nitrite, reactive silicate, and chlorophyll a. Consequently, the eastern Beibu Gulf water is classified into five water masses in the study area, namely the diluted water, the mixed water, the surface water, the subsurface water, and the bottom water. The diluted water is located in the area along the Guangxi coast; the mixed water mainly occupies the northern study area; the surface water resides in the central and southern study area; the subsurface water exists just near the Gulf mouth; and the bottom water appears in the lower layer east of Bailongwei Island, which is different from the Beibu Gulf cold water mentioned in previous studies. The parameter properties and spatial distribution of most water masses in the eastern Beibu Gulf exhibit strong seasonal variability which is mainly modulated by circulations and solar radiation.     

Effect of River Discharge on Bay of Bengal Circulation

The seasonal circulation and mixed layer depths in Bay of Bengal is modeled using the three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model (POM). Along the coastal boundaries a higher resolution is accomplished using the curvilinear orthogonal grid. Model uses a free-surface and terrain following sigma coordinates. The initial climatological salinity and temperature fields for the model are derived from the World Ocean Atlas-2001(WOA01). The Model is forced with wind stress derived from COADS wind climatology. Bilinear interpolation is used to obtain the initial fields and wind stress to the required model specification. Using the seasonal fields and wind stress the model is integrated for simulating Bay of Bengal circulation. The numerical simulations on climatological scale for monsoon months were conducted to study the evolution of dynamics. The simulations bring out not only the typical characteristic features of fresh water plume along the coast but also intensification of the flow over the monsoon period. The increase in the fresh water flow found to affect only the western parts of the BoB. The opposing currents due to monsoon winds and southward flowing fresh water discharge (FWD) were also delineated. The model results show that the wind stress induced turbulence process is subdued in the presence of strong vertical salinity stratification due to the influence of FWD. The simulated mixed layer depths are in agreement with the reported analytical energy required for mixing values.     

Seasonal variation of residual current in Tokyo Bay,Japan —diagnostic numerical experiments—

The residual currents in Tokyo Bay during four seasons are calculated diagnostically from the observed water temperature, salinity and wind data collected by Unokiet al. (1980). The calculated residual currents, verified by the observed ones, show an obvious seasonal variable character. During spring, a clear anticlockwise circulation develops in the head region of the bay and a strong southwestward current flows in the upper layer along the eastern coast from the central part to the mouth of the bay. During summer, the anticlockwise circulation in the head region is maintained but the southwestward current along the eastern coast becomes weak. During autumn, the preceding anticlockwise circulation disappears but a clockwise circulation develops in the central part of the bay. During winter, the calculated residual current is similar to that during autumn. As a conclusion, the seasonal variation of residual current in Tokyo Bay can be attributed to the variation of the strength of two eddies. The first one is the anticlockwise circulation in the head region of the bay, which develops in spring and summer and disappears in autumn and winter. The second one is the clockwise circulation in the central part of the bay, which develops in autumn and winter, decreases in spring and nearly disappears in summer.