Impact of the central Pacific zonal wind divergence and convergence on the central Pacific El Nio event

The central Pacific(CP) zonal wind divergence and convergence indices are defined, and the forming mechanism of CP El Nio(La Nia) events is discussed preliminarily. The results show that the divergence and convergence of the zonal wind anomaly(ZWA) are the key process in the forming of CP El Nio(La Nia) events. A correlation analysis between the central Pacific zonal wind divergence and convergence indices and central Pacific El Nio indices indicates that there is a remarkable lag correlation between them. The central Pacific zonal wind divergence and convergence indices can be used to predict the CP events. Based on these results, a linear regression equation is obtained to predict the CP El Nio(La Nia) events 5 months ahead.     

Research on the Propagation Acting of the Equatorial Planetary Waves on the Western Equatorial Pacific Warm Pool Heat

1 IntroductionIn the Equatorial Pacific, due to the difference between the atmospheric circulation and air-sea interaction, the near-surface seawater heat structure in the eastern and western Pacific presents two ℃obviously different characteristics: warm pool ( > 28 ) in the western equatorial Pacific and cold ℃tongue ( < 24 ) in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The water bodies of these two heat structures would give rise to change in spatial distribution under the action of the equato…     

Preliminary study on the dynamic mechanism of the deep equatorial jets

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西太平洋暖池表层暖水的纬向运移

基于1950～2000年太平洋月平均SST资料,运用Morlet小波分析等方法研究了西太平洋暖池表层暖水的纬向运移特征.结果表明:暖池表层暖水纬向运移的年际(2～8a)和年代际(10～16a)变化都非常明显;表层暖水的纬向运移于1982年前后经历了一次气候跃变,跃变后暖水东界的平均位置比跃变前东移了10个经度;表层暖水的纬向运移对ENSO暖(ElNiño)、冷(LaNiña)事件的形成和发展具有直接的作用.     

Zonal Wavelengths of Planetary Rossby Waves Derived from Hydrographic Transects in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean?

Using hydrographic data of three extended zonal sections, which cover the upper 1000 dbar layer along 10°, 21°, and 32°N in the North-East Atlantic between 20° and 45°W, observational evidence is presented for zonal wavelengths of resonantly excited, first mode, long, baroclinic Rossby waves. The amplitudes of associated anomalies in the mass field decrease with increasing offshore distance. The associated zonal wavelengths reach several hundred kilometres and decrease with increasing latitude. Due to the Rossby dispersion, the detected wave patterns slowly propagate westward, somewhat faster in the south than in the north. The results obtained confirm the data sets remotely sensed by satellites, as well as the outcomes of analytical and numerical models.     

Alternating zonal flows in a two-layer wind-driven ocean

Alternating zonal flows in an idealized wind-driven double-gyre ocean circulation have been investigated using a two-layer shallow-water eddy-permitting numerical model. While the alternating zonal flows are found almost everywhere in the time-mean zonal velocity field, their meridional scales differ from region to region. In the subpolar western boundary region, where the energetic eddy activity induces quasi two-dimensional turbulence, the alternating zonal flows are generated by the inverse energy cascade and its arrest by Rossby waves, and the meridional scale of the flows corresponds well to the Rhines scale. In the eastern part of the basin, where barotropic basin modes are dominant, the zonal structure is formed through the nonlinear effect of the basin modes and is wider than the Rhines scale. Both effects are likely to form zonal structure between the two regions. These results show that Rossby basin modes become an important factor in the formation of alternating zonal flows in a closed basin in addition to the arrest of the inverse energy cascade by Rossby waves. The wind-driven general circulation associated with eddy activities plays an essential role in determining which mechanism of the alternating zonal flows is possible in each region.     

Height-season structure of the available potential energy and kinetic energy in the lower and middle atmosphere

The distributions of kinetic energy (KE) and available potential energy (APE) in the lower and middle atmosphere of the Northern and Southern hemispheres over the period 1992–2003 are investigated. Annual mean values of the amplitude and phase of annual and semiannual oscillations in the zonal and eddy forms of KE and APE are calculated in the height range 0–55 km (1000–0.316 hPa) for the 21st layer. A clearly pronounced annual cycle of the zonal and eddy components of KE and APE with maxima in the winter season are observed in the troposphere of both hemispheres. In the lower stratosphere, the annual-cycle maximum is shifted toward the summer season because of the meridional gradient of the zonal mean temperature. In the stratosphere of both hemispheres, along with annual oscillations, semiannual oscillations are present in all forms of energy. The intensity of these oscillations for the zonal KE and APE at the upper-stratosphere heights is comparable to the intensity of annual oscillations. A local structure of the energy regime of the upper mesosphere-lower thermosphere is investigated against the background of the global energy regime from the data of meteor sounding in Kazan. It is shown that, for both the global and regional regimes, specific features of the phase profiles of energy characteristics can be explained by the presence of barriers during the propagation of wave disturbances along the vertical.     

西太平洋暖池纬向变异及其对ENSO的影响

基于SODA再分析资料以及SST、JEDAC和TAO观测资料,利用加权平均法建立了具有良好代表性的暖池整体暖水的纬向运移指标序列,并利用Morlet小波变换等分析方法,研究了暖池的纬向变异特征及其对ENSO的影响。结果表明,暖池具有明显的年际(2—7年)和年代际(10—16年)纬向变异,并在1976年前后经历了一次由弱到强的气候跃变。暖池内部的暖水大致可以50m为界分为上、下两部分,其上半部分的纬向变异幅度非常大,而其下半部分的纬向变异幅度则相对较小。但两者具有很一致的年际、年代际变化趋势。暖池的年代际纬向变异对赤道中太平洋纬向风应力和纬向流有较好的响应,而且对赤道西太平洋上层热含量变化有较大影响。相关和合成分析表明,暖池的东扩、西缩对ENSO暖(El Nio)、冷(La Nia)事件的形成和发展具有直接的影响,而且暖池的异常东扩对El Nio有增强作用。     

Intrayear Variability of Geostrophic Zonal Currents in the Tropical Zone of the South Atlantic

On the basis of the results of calculation and analysis of the characteristics of space variability of the geostrophic component of large-scale zonal currents in the tropical zone of the South Atlantic, its intrayear oscillations, and the components of tangential wind stresses, we establish the regularities of seasonal variability of the system of gradient currents on the ocean surface depending on wind conditions. We describe the specific features of seasonal meridional fluctuations of the midstreams of the geostrophic component of zonal large-scale currents and the intrayear variations of their velocity.     

1980～1999年热带太平洋次表层盐度年际变化同化数据分析

通过统计方法利用一套海洋同化数据分析了热带太平洋次表层的盐度变化特征.结果表明次表层盐度的年际变化与ENSO相关,且次表层盐度信号区域呈东西方向“跷跷板”的分布.对影响这些次表层的盐度信号区域平均的纬向平流、经向平流、垂直运动和淡水通量异常等因素进行了分析,并且与影响表层盐度年际变化模态的影响因素差异进行了比较,结果表明,纬向平流的异常对表层盐度的异常变化影响较大,而对次表层盐度异常有较大影响的是海水的垂直运动异常.     

Velocity of propagation of temperature anomalies in the tropical zone of the Indian Ocean

We describe the space-and-time structure of large-scale thermal anomalies in the upper layer in the tropical zone of the Indian Ocean and study the mechanism of their formation. It is shown that the critical layer in which the phase velocities of propagation of disturbances coincide with the mean velocity of the zonal current can be formed in the central part of equatorial zone of the Indian Ocean (between 9° and 12°S). In this layer, the formation of growing disturbances is possible due to the barotropic-baroclinic instability of the system of zonal currents.     

赤道印度洋上层环流辐合辐散的年际变异成因分析

印度洋上层海气相互作用对印度洋和太平洋气候系统有重要影响。目前针对印度洋气候态环流特征已有较为全面的研究,但针对印度洋环流的年际变化及其季节性差异的特征分析和具体作用机制,仍缺乏深入的研究。本文利用1979—2007年Simple Ocean Data Assimilation(SODA)再分析资料研究了赤道印度洋表层辐合辐散的年际变异及其季节依赖性。结果表明,以赤道为中心,印度洋上层异常海流,在经向上形成显著的辐合(辐散)现象,究其原因主要是赤道纬向风异常形成的Ekman流所导致。进一步分析表明,热带印度洋异常纬向风的成因与太平洋-印度洋的热力强迫过程作用有关,并且不同的热力强迫过程呈现出显著的季节差异性。此热力强迫过程,具体可分为3种类型:第一类是太平洋纬向海表热力差异的遥强迫作用,主要发生在冬末春初,热带太平洋的纬向热力差异通过调节Walker环流,在印度洋激发出一个异常的次级环流,对应的大气低层形成纬向风异常;第二类是东-西印度洋海表热力差异的局地强迫作用导致的局地环流,使赤道印度洋上空形成纬向风异常,此过程在春末夏初较为显著;第三类是太平洋-印度洋热力差协同作用的结果,使赤道印度洋盛行异常的纬向风,此过程在秋季起主导作用。     

Simulation of the quasi-biennial oscillations of the zonal wind in the equatorial stratosphere: Part I. Low-parameter models

The paper focuses on the simulation of the quasi-biennial oscillations (QBOs) of zonal velocity in the equatorial stratosphere. Low-parameter models are used to examine two mechanisms for excitation of the QBO: one through the interaction of planetary waves with the mean flow at critical levels and another through gravity-wave obliteration. The possible use of each of these mechanisms for generating the QBO is shown, the ranges of parameter values where this generation is possible are determined, and the dependences of the period and amplitude of the limit cycle on the model parameters are analyzed. A relative role of waves of different scales in the formation of the period of the oscillations of zonal wind is studied with a coupled model combining both mechanisms. The conditions that are required to reproduce the QBO in general circulation models are discussed.     

Why was the 2008 Indian Ocean Dipole a short-lived event?

In this paper, the role of equatorial oceanic waves in affecting the evolution of the 2008 positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event was evaluated using available observations and output from a quasi-analytical linear wave model. It was found that the 2008 positive IOD was an early matured and abruptly terminated event: developed in April, matured in July, and diminished in September. During the development and the maturation of the 2008 positive IOD event, the wind-forced Rossby waves played a dominant role in generating zonal current anomalies in the western equatorial Indian Ocean, while a complex interplay between the wind-forced upwelling Kelvin waves and the eastern-boundary-generated Rossby waves accounted for most of the variability in the eastern basin. The latter induced eastward zonal current anomalies near the eastern boundary during the peak phase of the event. The 2008 positive IOD event was abruptly terminated in mid-July. We found that there were strong eastward zonal currents in mid-July, though the surface wind anomalies in the eastern basin continued to be westward (upwelling favorable). Our analysis shows that these eastward zonal currents mainly resulted from the easternboundary-generated upwelling Rossby waves, although the contribution from the wind-forced downwelling Kelvin waves was not negligible. These eastward zonal currents terminated the zonal heat advection and provided a favorable condition for surface heat flux to warm the eastern basin.     

Intraseasonal-to-Interannual Variability of the Upper-Layer Zonal Currents in the Tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean

Ocean Science Journal - The upper-layer circulation in the Tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean (TNWP) is characterized by the alternating zonal currents, such as North Equatorial Current (NEC) and...     

Ekman Friction and the Formation of Upper Tropospheric Zonal Flows

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The influence of the Ekman friction on the dynamics of zonal flows (ZFs) has been studied within the framework of a quasigeostrophic model of the...     

Fronts and surface zonal geostrophic current along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean

Altimeter and in situ data are used to estimate the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the section along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean,and the variation of strong currents in relation to the major fronts is studied.The results show that,in average,the flow in the core of Antarctic Circumpolar Current(ACC) along the section is composed of two parts,one corresponds to the jet of Subantarctic Front(SAF) and the other is the flow in the Polar Front Zone(PFZ),with a westward flow between them.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the SAF is up to 49 cm · s-1 at 46°S,which is the maximal velocity in the section.The eastward flow in the PFZ has a width of about 4.3 degrees in latitudes.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front(SACCF) is located at 59.7 °S with velocity less than 20 cm · s-1.The location of zonal geostrophic jet corresponding to the SAF is quite stable during the study period.In contrast,the eastward jets in the PFZ exhibit various patterns,i.e.,the primary Polar Front(PF1) shows its strong meridional shift and the secondary Polar Front(PF2) does not always coincide with jet.The surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to SAF has the significant periods of annual,semi-annual and four-month.The geostrophic current of the PFZ also shows significant periods of semi-annual and four-month,but is out of phase with the periods of the SAF,which results in no notable semi-annual and fourmonth periods in the surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC.In terms of annual cycle,the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC shows its maximal velocity in June.     

Zonal versus meridional velocity variance in satellite observations and realistic and idealized ocean circulation models

Global, high-quality, satellite-based observation of oceanic currents over the past 13 years has revealed ubiquitous quasi-horizontal eddies in the mesoscale (tens to hundreds of kilometers), confirming the view of a highly turbulent ocean suggested by observational programs in the 1970s. Idealized quasigeostrophic turbulence models suggest mesoscale turbulent flow can vary between isotropic, and highly anisotropic zonal jets. Here we compare the zonal and meridional velocity variance from satellite altimetry. We find that, for an unexplained reason and despite the chaotic nature of turbulence, the surface flow is organized into mesoscale patches where either zonal or meridional velocity variance dominates. The patches persist over 13 years, much longer than the turbulent timescale of a few months. Implications include potentially highly anisotropic redistribution of tracers by the mesoscale flow. Zonally averaged velocity variances reveal a slight preference for meridional over zonal velocity variance. Realistic primitive equation models succeed in reproducing both the patchy structure in local preference for either zonal or meridional velocity variance, and the zonally averaged preference for meridional variance. Idealized models of fully developed, quasigeostrophic turbulence fail in both regards.     

Intraseasonal variability of the surface zonal current in the equatorial Indian Ocean: Seasonal differences and causes

Using observations and numerical simulations, this study examines the intraseasonal variability of the surface zonal current(u ISV) over the equatorial Indian Ocean, highlighting the seasonal and spatial differences, and the causes of the differences. Large-amplitude u ISV occurs in the eastern basin at around 80°–90°E and near the western boundary at 45°–55°E. In the eastern basin, the u ISV is mainly caused by the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillations(ISOs), which explains 91% of the standard...     

Local advective mechanism for interdecadal variability in circulations driven by constant surface heat fluxes in idealized basins

Idealized numerical experiments with a depth level coordinate ocean circulation model (GFDL MOM3) have been conducted to investigate the structure of interdecadal variability from thermally driven circulations. The model oceans are driven by steady surface heat fluxes in the absence of surface wind stresses. Interdecadal variability is observed, with characteristics similar to those reported in many previous studies. To explain the nature of the variability we propose a new mechanism based on two local horizontal advective processes. This overcomes the limitations in previous theories based on the interplay between global properties such as zonal and meridional temperature gradients and overturning. One of the two advective processes is a zonal flow anomaly induced by a temperature anomaly along the northern wall through geostrophy southward of the temperature anomaly. A cold (warm) anomaly along the northern wall produces a positive (negative) zonal flow anomaly that induces a warm (cold) temperature anomaly by enhancing (weakening) warm advection from the western boundary along the path of the zonal flow anomaly. The temperature and flow anomalies are transported toward the eastern boundary by the mean eastward zonal flow. When the positive (negative) zonal flow anomaly that accompanies the warm (cold) temperature anomaly encounters the eastern wall, a downwelling (upwelling) anomaly is produced. To dissipate the vorticity due to this downwelling (upwelling) anomaly, a northward (southward) flow anomaly, which is another advective process governing the variability, is generated within a frictional boundary layer next to the eastern wall. The northward (southward) flow anomaly circulates cyclonically along the perimeter of the basin while enhancing (reducing) warm advection. So does the warm (cold) temperature anomaly carried to the eastern wall by the mean zonal flow while pushing the cold (warm) anomaly that produced the positive (negative) zonal flow anomaly westward and initiating the other half cycle of the variability. During the anomalous downwelling or upwelling, the available potential energy stored in the anomalous density field is released to maintain the variability. Thus, neither barotropic nor baroclinic instability supplies energy for the variability. The anomalous vertical velocity is stronger along the northern boundary and the northern part of the eastern boundary. A shallow continental slope added along those boundaries prohibits the anomalous vertical motion and weakens variability very effectively, while one along the western boundary does not.