Observational study of super typhoon Meranti (2016) using satellite,surface drifter,Argo float and reanalysis data

The present work describes the basic features of super typhoon Meranti(2016) by multiple data sources. We mainly focus on the upper ocean response to Meranti using multiplatform satellites, in situ surface drifter and Argo floats, and compare the results with the widely used idealized wind vortex model and reanalysis datasets.The pre-existing meso-scale eddy provided a favor underlying surface boundary condition and also modulated the upper ocean response to Meranti. Results show that the maximu...     

基于一维扩散方程反演温度垂直扩散系数的变分方法

Diapycnal mixing is important in oceanic circulation. An inverse method in which a semi-explicit scheme is applied to discretize the one-dimensional temperature diffusion equation is established to estimate the vertical temperature diffusion coefficient based on the observed temperature profiles. The sensitivity of the inverse model in the idealized and actual conditions is tested in detail. It can be found that this inverse model has high feasibility under multiple situations ensuring the stability of the inverse model, and can be considered as an efficient way to estimate the temperature diffusion coefficient in the weak current regions of the ocean. Here, the hydrographic profiles from Argo floats are used to estimate the temporal and spatial distribution of the vertical mixing in the north central Pacific based on this inverse method. It is further found that the vertical mixing in the upper ocean displays a distinct seasonal variation with the amplitude decreasing with depth, and the vertical mixing over rough topography is stronger than that over smooth topography It is suggested that the high-resolution profiles from Argo floats and a more reasonable design of the inverse scheme will serve to understand mixing processes.     

基于观测的南海越南沿岸次表层涡旋

In this study, subsurface eddies near the Vietnam coast of the South China Sea were observed with in situ observations, including Argo, CTD, XBT and some processed and quality controlled data. Based on temperature profiles from four Argo floats near the coast of Vietnam, a subsurface warm eddy was identified in spring and summer. The multi-year Argo and Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme(GTSPP) data were merged on a seasonal basis based on the data interpolating variational analysis(DIVA) method to reconstruct the three-dimensional temperature structure. There is a warm eddy in the central subsurface at 12.5°N, 111°E below300 m depth in spring, which does not exist in autumn and is weak in winter and summer. From CSIRO Atlas of Regional Seas(CARS) and Generalized Digital Environment Model(GDEM) reanalysis data, this subsurface warm eddy is also verified in spring.     

南海Argo浮标观测结果初步分析

对投放在南海内部的4个Argo浮标轨迹特征,温、盐结构及漂移速度进行诊断分析发现,Argo浮标剖面温、盐观测结果和气候态资料一致,同时上层海洋温、盐剖面资料表现出周期约2月的扰动信号,并且温跃层起伏与同期海表高度异常相关显著。和高度计资料计算而得的海表地转流相比,由Argo浮标漂移轨迹计算的表观流量值较小。在季节时间尺度上,Argo浮标表观流和Argo浮标所停留的中层参考面季节性海流相一致。     

Eddy-resolving ocean circulation in the Asian-Australian region inferred from an ocean reanalysis effort

The first global ocean reanalysis with focus on the Asian-Australian region was performed for the period October 1992 to June 2006. The 14-year experiment assimilated available observations of altimetric sea-level anomaly, satellite SST and quality-controlled in situ temperature and salinity profiles from a range of sources, including field surveys and the Argo float array. This study focuses on dominant circulation patterns in the South-East Asian/Australian region as simulated by an eddy-resolving and data-assimilating ocean general circulation model. New estimates of the ocean circulation are provided which are largely in agreement with the limited number of observations. Transports of key currents in the region are as follows: The total (top-to-bottom) annual mean Indonesian Throughflow transport and its standard deviation are 9.7 ± 4.4 Sv from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean with a minimum in January (6.6 Sv) and a maximum in April (12.3 Sv). The Leeuwin Current along the west coast of Australia is dominated by eddy structures with a mean southward transport of 4.1 ± 2.0 Sv at 34°S. Along the southern coast of Australia a narrow shelf edge current known as the South Australian Current advects 4.5 ± 2.6 Sv eastward at 130°E. The South Australian Current converges east of Tasmania with the eddy-rich extension of East Australian Current. At 32°S this current transports 36.8 ± 18.5 Sv southward. A dominating feature of the circulation between north-eastern Australia and Papua-New Guinea is the strong and quasi-permanent Coral Sea Gyre. This gyre is associated with the highly variable Hiri Current which runs along the south coast of Papua-New Guinea and advects 8.2 ± 19.1 Sv into the Western Pacific Ocean. All of these transport estimates are subject to strong eddy variability.     

基于拉格朗日方法的南海自动剖面浮标轨迹模拟系统*

南海自动剖面浮标轨迹模拟系统包括高分辨率模式流场、拉格朗日追踪模型和垂向浮标运动参数化方案等三个核心部分。该系统可在南海范围内模拟两类自动剖面浮标: 传统自动剖面浮标(停滞深度为1000m, 最大下潜深度为2000m)和新型深海自动剖面浮标(停滞深度为距海底500m)。通过对南海现有的6个传统浮标的模拟, 该系统可以预测其100d内的漂流轨迹。通过与真实浮标轨迹数据的对比, 验证了该模拟系统的准确性。此外, 根据该系统, 我们初步探讨了深海自动剖面浮标阵列(时空分辨率为2°×2°×30d)在南海内区布放方案的可行性。该模拟系统的建立和完善将有助于对现有传统剖面浮标布放策略进行优化, 并对未来深海剖面浮标在南海的推广应用提供初步的理论依据。     

国际Argo计划执行现状剖析

国际Argo计划自2000年实施以来,世界上25个国家和团体已经在全球海洋中布放了5000余个Argo浮标,其中在海上正常工作的浮标已经超过3000个。这标志着全球Argo实时海洋观测网已经全面建成。文中将系统介绍国际Argo计划主要成员国在浮标布放、回收和Argo资料管理等方面所作出的贡献,以帮助读者对这21世纪的重大国际海洋观测计划有一较全面、深入的了解。     

Convective structures in the Lofoten Basin based on satellite and Argo data

We discuss the possibility of detecting deep convection in the Lofoten Basin of the Norwegian Sea based on the eddy structures revealed from the satellite data. Satellite altimetry, SAR imagery, and MODIS satellite spectral radiometer sea-surface temperature (SST) data are used in the analysis, along with the data of oceanographic Argo floats. It is shown that the eddies identified from the satellite data correspond to the convective cells in the same region according to the data of the Argo floats. We consider several examples of the summer eddy and one winter eddy and the corresponding structures in the ocean measured by the Argo floats when they were located close to the identified eddies. As this method develops and improves, it can be used for the analysis of the dynamic of oceanic eddies in the region of the Lofoten Basin, and possibly in other regions with active deep convection.     

Improving Ocean State by Assimilating SARAL/AltiKa Derived Sea Level and Other Satellite-Derived Data in MITGCM

Assimilation of satellite-derived surface datasets has been explored in the study. Three types of surface data, namely sea level anomaly, sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity, have been used in various data assimilation experiments. The emphasis has been on the extra benefit arising out of the additional sea level assimilation and hence there are two parallel runs, in one of which sea level assimilation has been withheld. The model used is a state-of-the art ocean general circulation model (OGCM) and the assimilation method is the widely used singular evolutive extended Kalman filter (SEEK). Evaluation of the assimilation skill has been carried out by comparing the simulated depth of the 20°C isotherm with the same quantity measured by buoys and Argo floats. Simulated subsurface temperature and salinity profiles have also been compared with the same profiles measured by Argo floats. Finally, surface currents in the assimilation runs have been compared with currents measured by several off-equatorial buoys. Addition of sea level has been found to substantially improve the quality of simulation. An important feature that has been effectively simulated by the addition of sea level in the assimilation scheme is the near-surface temperature inversion (2-3°C) in the northern Bay of Bengal.     

Twenty years of ocean observations with China Argo

The international Argo program, a global observational array of nearly 4 000 autonomous profiling floats initiated in the late 1990s, which measures the water temperature and salinity of the upper 2 000 m of the global ocean, has revolutionized oceanography. It has been recognized one of the most successful ocean observation systems in the world. Today, the proposed decade action “OneArgo” for building an integrated global, full-depth, and multidisciplinary ocean observing array for beyond 2020 ...     

Direct measurements of surface and mid-depth circulationin the Shikoku Basin by Argo profiling floats

The circulation in the Shikoku Basin plays a very important role in the pathway of the Kuroshio and the water exchange in the subtropical gyre in the North Pacific Ocean. The Argo profiling floats deployed in the Shikoku Basin are used to study the circulations and water masses in the basin. The trajectories and parking depth velocity fields derived from all Argo floats show an anticyclonic circulation at 2 000 m in the Shikoku Basin. There are inhanced eddy activities in the Shikoku Basin, which have large influence on the Shikoku Basin circulation patterns. The characteristics of temperature-salinity curves indicate that there are North Pacific Ocean tropical water (NPTW), North Pacific Ocean subtropical mode water (NPSTMW) and North Pacific Ocean intermediate water (NPIW) in the Shikoku Basin. The NPTW is only exists south of 32°N. In the middle part of the basin, which is 28°~31°N,133°~135°E, there is a confluence region. Water masses coming from the Kuroshio mix with the water in the Shikoku Basin.     

Linear and non-linear T–S models for the eastern North Atlantic from Argo data: Role of surface salinity observations

Linear and non-linear empirical models for salinity (S) are estimated from the Argo temperature (T) and salinity (delayed) data. This study focuses on the reconstruction of salinity in the upper 1200 m of the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, a region characterized by the presence of many different water masses. While previous studies have found it necessary to split this region by boxes to fit different polynomial models in each box, a unique model valid for the entire region is fitted here. Argo profiles are randomly distributed on two sets: one for fitting the models and one for testing them. Non-linear regressions are built using neural networks with a single hidden layer and the fitting data set is further divided into two subsets: one for adjusting the coefficients (training data) and one for early stopping of the fitting (validation data). Our results indicate that linear regressions perform better than the climatologic T–S relationship, but that non-linear regressions perform better than the linear ones. Non-linear training using a three-data subsets strategy successfully prevents overfitting even when networks with 90 neurons in the hidden layer are being trained. While the presence of local minima may complicate the generalization of non-linear models to new data, network committees (created by training the same network from different random initial weights) are shown to better reproduce the test data. Several predictors are tested, and the results show that geographical, or surface, information does provide significant information. These results highlight the potential applications of future satellite missions measuring sea-surface salinity to reconstruct, when combined with temperature profiles, vertical salinity profiles.     

Combining Argo profiles with a general circulation model in the North Atlantic. Part 2: Realistic transports and improved hydrography,between spring 2002 and spring 2003

A set of Argo profiles collected in the North Atlantic between May 2002 and April 2003 is combined with a low-resolution general circulation model (GCM) using the adjoint method. Fitting the real hydrographic observations leads to vast improvements in the model circulation, including the sea surface height and the meridional heat transport. We find striking differences in basin-scale transports compared with previous assimilation experiments that use the same GCM and a similar spatial resolution. Based on forward modeling studies, it is argued that these differences are due to different assimilation experiment durations. Over 1 year, the hydrography interpolated with the GCM from Argo profiles better represents the contemporary structures than does a long-term averaged climatology. The GCM dynamics are robust enough to distinguish between contemporary hydrography and climatological hydrography.     

An OSSE Study for Deep Argo Array using the GFDL Ensemble Coupled Data Assimilation System

An observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) using an ensemble coupled data assimilation system was designed to investigate the impact of deep ocean Argo profile assimilation in a biased numerical climate system. Based on the modern Argo observational array and an artificial extension to full depth, “observations” drawn from one coupled general circulation model (CM2.0) were assimilated into another model (CM2.1). Our results showed that coupled data assimilation with simultaneous atmospheric and oceanic constraints plays a significant role in preventing deep ocean drift. However, the extension of the Argo array to full depth did not significantly improve the quality of the oceanic climate estimation within the bias magnitude in the twin experiment. Even in the “identical” twin experiment for the deep Argo array from the same model (CM2.1) with the assimilation model, no significant changes were shown in the deep ocean, such as in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and the Antarctic bottom water cell. The small ensemble spread and corresponding weak constraints by the deep Argo profiles with medium spatial and temporal resolution may explain why the deep Argo profiles did not improve the deep ocean features in the assimilation system. Additional studies using different assimilation methods with improved spatial and temporal resolution of the deep Argo array are necessary in order to more thoroughly understand the impact of the deep Argo array on the assimilation system.     

基于适应性观测误差和温盐偏差控制的EnKF温盐廓线资料同化试验

通过开展2008年夏季南海北部开放航次CTD的温盐廓线数据资料同化试验,本文采取了观测误差适应的方法来防止EnKF滤波发散问题;同时,从背景误差协方差和温盐模式偏差关系入手,在同化中引入温盐控制来减小模式偏差对同化结果的影响。对于改进的同化方案进行了试验验证,并用卫星高度计观测数据,OSCAR流速数据,走航ADCP数据作为独立观测数据检验。结果证明新的EnKF同化策略能够有效地减小温盐均方根误差。同时整个同化系统能有效地改善高度场和流场的模拟。     

环南澳大利亚太平洋-印度洋海洋间南极中层水环流

On the basis of the salinity distribution of isopycnal(σ_0=27.2 kg/m~3) surface and in salinity minimum, the Antarctic Intermediate Water(AAIW) around South Australia can be classified into five types corresponding to five regions by using in situ CTD observations. Type 1 is the Tasman AAIW, which has consistent hydrographic properties in the South Coral Sea and the North Tasman Sea. Type 2 is the Southern Ocean(SO) AAIW, parallel to and extending from the Subantarctic Front with the freshest and coldest AAIW in the study area. Type 3 is a transition between Type 1 and Type 2. The AAIW transforms from fresh to saline with the latitude declining(equatorward). Type 4, the South Australia AAIW, has relatively uniform AAIW properties due to the semienclosed South Australia Basin. Type 5, the Southeast Indian AAIW, progressively becomes more saline through mixing with the subtropical Indian intermediate water from south to north. In addition to the above hydrographic analysis of AAIW, the newest trajectories of Argo(Array for real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) floats were used to constructed the intermediate(1 000 m water depth) current field, which show the major interocean circulation of AAIW in the study area. Finally, a refined schematic of intermediate circulation shows that several currents get together to complete the connection between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. They include the South Equatorial Current and the East Australia Current in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Leakage and the Flinders Current in the South Australia Basin, and the extension of Flinders Current in the southeast Indian Ocean.     

中国Argo计划:Argo观测和资料应用进展

文章回顾了中国Argo计划已经取得的成果,主要包括中国Argo观测网的建设、浮标技术、数据质量控制及共享等。同时,讨论了Argo数据产品的开发以及数据在海洋、气象和大气研究中的应用,特别是在热带气旋（台风）、海洋环流、中尺度涡、湍流、海水热盐储量与输送、大洋水团,以及海洋、天气/气候业务化预测预报中的应用。最后,文章阐述了中国Argo海洋观测网长期维护和持续发展所面临的挑战和机遇,我们应在印度洋增加浮标数量,同时建立南海Argo区域海洋观测网,促进Argo资料在东南亚和印度洋沿岸国家的应用。     

An oceanic general circulation model framed in hybrid isopycnic-Cartesian coordinates

A newly developed hybrid-coordinate ocean circulation model is documented and tested. Coordinate surfaces in this model adhere to isopycnals wherever this does not violate minimum layer thickness requirements; elsewhere, coordinate surfaces are geometrically constrained. The intent of this approach, some of whose features are reminiscent of the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) technique, is to combine the best features of isopycnic-coordinate and fixed-grid circulation models within a single framework. The hybrid model is an offshoot of the Miami Isopycnic Coordinate Ocean Model whose solutions, obtained under identical geographic and forcing conditions, serve as reference. Century-scale simulations on a coarse-mesh near-global domain show considerable similarities in the modeled thermohaline-forced circulation. Certain architectural details, such as the choice of prognostic thermodynamic variables (ρ,S versus T,S) and the algorithm for moving coordinate surfaces toward their reference isopycnals, are found to only have a minor impact on the solution. Emphasis in this article is on the numerical resiliency of the hybrid coordinate approach. Exploitation of the model's flexible coordinate layout in areas of ocean physics where pure isopycnic coordinate models only have limited options, such as mixed-layer turbulence parameterization, will be the subject of forthcoming articles.     

Direct measurement of the deep circulation within the Brazil Basin

In support of the Deep Basin Experiment, part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, a large number of neutrally buoyant floats were released within the Brazil Basin during the 1990s in an attempt to measure directly the circulation in the deep ocean interior. Three levels corresponding to the three major subthermocline water masses were selected, and results from the deeper two (North Atlantic Deep Water, NADW, and Antarctic Bottom Water, AABW) are described. At this writing processing of acquired tracking data is incomplete. Hence, this paper reports on the progress of the observational program and gives our initial conclusions.It appears that the flow in the deep Brazil Basin is unlike previous conjectures in which the circulation patterns can be characterized as being primarily meridional, both along the western boundary and in the interior. The existence of a deep western boundary current (DWBC) is quite clear in the float data at the NADW level, but less prominent in the AABW, and the interior flow is dominantly zonal with unexpectedly small meridional space scales. Integral time scales are long, of order 20–30 days, and eddy kinetic energy levels are low, of order 1 cm²/s². In spite of the low energy levels a surprising number of our floats became caught up in vortices.A line of seamounts extending offshore near 20°S, known as the Vitória–Trindade Seamounts, interrupts the DWBCs and is the location for eddy formation and apparent flow away from the boundary into the interior. Although it has been speculated that this could feed a narrow zonal current of NADW (the “Namib Col Current”) our float trajectories suggest a return to the western boundary, rather than a continuation to the east.