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.     

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...     

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.     

Oceanic Rossby waves induced by the meridional shift of the ITCZ in association with ENSO events

This study investigated the eastern Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as an atmospheric forcing to the ocean by using various observed and reanalysis data sets over 29 years. Climatologically, a zonal band of positive wind stress curl (WSC) with a 10° meridional width was exhibited along the ITCZ. A southward shift of the positive WSC band during the El Niño phase induced a negative (positive) WSC anomaly along the northern (southern) portion of the ITCZ, and vice versa during the La Niña phase. This meridional dipole accounted for more than 25 % of interannual variances of the WSC anomalies (WSCAs), based on analysis of the period 1993–2008. The negative (positive) WSCA in the northern portion of the ITCZ during the El Niño (La Niña) phase was collocated with a positive (negative) sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) that propagated westward as a Rossby wave all the way to the western North Pacific. This finding indicates that this off-equatorial Rossby wave is induced by the WSCA around the ITCZ. Our analysis of a 1.5-layer reduced gravity model revealed that the Rossby waves are mostly explained by wind stress forcing, rather than by reflection of an equatorial Kelvin wave on the eastern coastal boundary. The off-equatorial Rossby wave had the same SSHA polarity as the equatorial Kelvin wave, and generation of a phase-preserving Rossby wave without the Kelvin wave reflection was explained by meridional movement of the ITCZ. Thus, the ITCZ acts as an atmospheric bridge that connects the equatorial and off-equatorial oceanic waves.     

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…     

大洋Rossby波动纬向传播速度的分布特征

利用1992年10月22日-2001年7月17日扣除年循环的T／P和ERS-1／-2的卫星融合高度计资料，应用二维Radon变换方法，对太平洋和大西洋的洋盆东部、西部的大洋Rossby波的纬向传播速度进行了分析与对比，并将二者分别与经典线性理论值比较，得出洋盆西部的Rossby波普遍比洋盆东部传播要快；中纬度海域大洋Rossby波的传播速度观测值与理论值的比率小于前人结果；并且在热带及副热带海域，大洋Rossby波的传播速度的观测值要低于理论值的结论。     

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.     

Interaction between a synoptic eddy and a Rossby wave

The behaviour of an isolated synoptic eddy on the -plane in the field of a plane Rossby wave is reported. As is shown, the eddy exchanges its energy intensively with Rossby waves having zero frequency in the frame of axes moving with the eddy. If the Rossby wave has an amplitude exceeding some critical value, a transition from average translational eddy motion along the meridian to oscillations in the vicinity of the equilibrium latitude is possible.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov. UDK 551.465.535:551.466.     

双曲余弦海脊上海啸俘获波的解析与数值研究

海啸能被大洋海脊引导以俘获波的形式沿其传播上万千米,且因其特殊的运动方式,携带巨大能量影响远场地区的港口,严重威胁海岸安全。本文首先基于线性浅水方程,推导了双曲余弦平方海脊上俘获波的波面解,其为μ阶ν次的连带勒让德函数的第一类解和第二类解的组合。进一步推导出其对应的频散关系,其中对于确定的频率ω,存在无穷多个波数k_y与之对应。采用MIKE21-BW模型,模拟了产生于海脊脊顶处的海啸在理想双曲余弦平方海脊上的传播变形过程。结果表明,小部分能量以自由先驱波进行传播,海啸波的波能大部分被海脊俘获。海脊俘获波沿着海脊方向为行进波,随着海啸波传播时间的增加,波浪在沿着海脊方向的延展范围也逐渐增大,波高逐渐减小、波的个数逐渐增加。俘获波能量主要由不同频率以相同速度传播的具有孤立波特性的波浪成分和能量主要集中在特定频率范围内的波浪成分组成。     

On the angular structure of weakly non-linear large-scale motions in the ocean

The two-dimensional spectrum of large-scale motions in the upper layer of the south-eastern Atlantic has been estimated using surface buoy observations. The derived spectrum is compared with the theoretical spectra of weakly non-linear Rossby waves. In thein situ data-based spectrum, one can trace such characteristic peculiarities of the theoretically derived spectra as symmetry relative to the parallels and energy concentration in a nearly zonal flow.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Zonal distribution features of high frequency planetary waves in the oceans derived from satellite altimeter data

1IntroductionTheavailabilityofnearly9aofhighqual-itysealevelanomaly(SLA)datafromsatellitealtimetersmakesitnowpossibletoestimatethedominantsignalsofvariabilityintheglobalo-ceanmoreaccuratelythanwaspreviouslypos-sible.Moreover,mergingtheT/PandERS-1and2altimeterdatathroughanadvancedglobalobjectiveanalysiscangreatlyimproveoura-bilitytoaccuratelyestimateoceanicvariabili-tycomparedwithusingasinglealtimeter(BoulagerandMenkes,1995).ThealtimeterdatarevealthedominantroleofplanetaryRoss-bywavesinocea…     

全球海洋高频波动主振荡周期的纬向带状分布特征

基于1992年10月至2000年12月的TOPEX/Poseidon和ERS-1/2卫星高度计资料,分析了周期短于150d的高频波动及其能量的空间分布特征.在功率谱密度计算基础上,分析特定频段所含能量占周期短于150d的高濒波动总能量的百分比,发现该频段最强振荡(下文称主振荡)所对应的周期从近赤道的1个月逐步增加至南北纬30°附近的4个月,进一步分析表明主振荡周期的这种变化是连续的,与西向行星Rossby波的相速随纬度增加而变慢相对应.主振荡所对应的周期在全球海洋中呈显著的带状分布.进而表明在14°N(S)附近60d周期的振荡除通常所认为的由于潮汐混淆所造成的虚假信号之外,主要是行星Rossby波形态的真实信号.     

Rossby波模型对西北太平洋海表面高度年际变异的可预测性研究

根据海洋Rossby波的西传特性, 使用一阶斜压Rossby波模型对北太平洋海表面高度的年际变异进行了回报和预测研究。回报结果表明, Rossby 波模型能够较好地模拟北太平洋海表面高度的年际变异。尤其是黑潮延伸区的下游, 模拟结果与卫星观测的相关系数达到0.8以上。预测结果表明, Rossby 波模型在两个纬向分布的海域有显著的预报能力, 分别位于高纬度中部和副热带环流西部。前者可提前5—6年, 后者可提前2—4年。此外, 重点开展了Rossby波模型在西北太平洋的预报能力研究。结果表明, Rossby波模型对中国的边缘海有着很好的预测能力, 包括南海北部、台湾以东和东海黑潮海域, 分别在提前32、40和52个月时能取得最佳的预测效果。     

Interaction between Rossby Waves and a Jet Flow: Basic Equations and Verification for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Abstract—The article focuses on the interaction of Rossby waves in the ocean with zonal jet flows. A new approach is proposed to show that...     

The eigenvalue equations of equatorial waves on a sphere

Zonally propagating wave solutions of the linearized shallow water equations (LSWE) in a zonal channel on the rotating spherical earth are constructed from numerical solutions of eigenvalue equations that yield the meridional variation of the waves' amplitudes and the phase speeds of these waves. An approximate Schrödinger equation, whose potential depends on one parameter only, is derived, and this equation yields analytic expressions for the dispersion relations and for the meridional structure of the waves' amplitudes in two asymptotic cases. These analytic solutions validate the accuracy of the numerical solutions of the exact eigenvalue equation. Our results show the existence of Kelvin, Poincaré and Rossby waves that are harmonic for large radius of deformation. For small radius of deformation, the latter two waves vary as Hermite functions. In addition, our results show that the mixed mode of the planar theory (a meridional wavenumber zero mode that behaves as a Rossby wave for large zonal wavenumbers and as a Poincaré wave for small ones) does not exist on a sphere; instead, the first Rossby mode and the first westward propagating Poincaré mode are separated by the anti-Kelvin mode for all values of the zonal wavenumber.     

Annual Variability of Sea Surface Height and Upper Layer Thickness in the Pacific Ocean

The annual variabilities of the sea surface height in the Pacific Ocean were investigated by analyzing the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite data and by solving a reduced gravity model. We discuss how adequately the simple model can capture the variabilities of the sea surface height, and what the cause of the variabilities is. Three large amplitude peaks in the satellite data are found along the 12°N longitude line. Two elongated zones with a large amplitude are also found: one extends east-west along 6°N and the other extends northwestward from South America around 25°S. These features are adequately reproduced in the numerical simulation of the reduced gravity model. The propagation of the Rossby wave is analyzed by the use of the extended Eliassen-Palm flux to investigate the mechanism of these annual variabilities. The two east peaks around 12°N can be explained in terms of the interference between the local Ekman pumping and the free wave emitted near the western coast of North America, and the most western peak is affected by the Rossby wave formed by the local wind stress. The elongated zonal area around 6°N is mainly due to the local Ekman pumping. Another area around 25°S results from the convergence of the free Rossby wave emitted from the eastern boundary and the area with the strong wind stress curl off South America. A discrepancy between the satellite data and the model results suggests that the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is relatively calm in the model but not in the satellite data. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spectral characteristics of Rossby waves in the Northwestern Pacific based on satellite altimetry

Using satellite altimetry measurement data for 1993–2013, we study the spectral characteristics of Rossby waves in the Northwestern Pacific (25°–50° N, 140°–180° E). For each latitude degree, we draw integral plots of spectral power density calculated with a two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D-FFT). We compare the dispersion equations of Rossby waves calculated from the WKB-approximation and an approximation of a two-layer ocean model with the empirical velocities determined by the slope of isopleths by the Radon method; also, we compare the dispersion equations with the spectral distributions of level variations. It is shown that the main energy of Rossby waves in the Northwestern Pacific corresponds to the first baroclinic mode. At almost all latitudes, there is good agreement between the empirical phase velocities calculated by isopleths by the Radon method and the theoretical values; also, the spectral peaks correspond to graphs of the dispersion equations for the first baroclinic mode Rossby waves, except for the Kuroshio region, where some peaks correspond to the second mode.     

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.     

Generation of a double Kelvin wave resulting from the reflection of the Rossby wave by the jump layer

This paper considers the evolution of a spatially-localized divergent Rossby wave field near the depth jump. If the jump magnitude is comparable to the depth, Rossby waves are fully reflected and a double Kelvin wave is then generated. The Rossby waves and the double Kelvin wave are described by the first- and zero-approximation fields of the asymptotic expansion, respectively. Over the characteristic Rossby wave period, the level elevation produced by the double Kelvin wave spreads over an extensive area, theraby making up for the change in the total fluid mass of the Rossby waves.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Equatorially trapped Rossby waves in the presence of meridionally sheared baroclinic flow in the Pacific Ocean

TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data are analyzed for the 8.5-year period November 1992 to May 2001 to investigate the sea surface height (SSH) and geostrophic velocity signatures of quasi-annual equatorially trapped Rossby waves in the Pacific. The latitudinal structures of SSH and both components of geostrophic velocity are found to be asymmetric about the equator across the entire Pacific with larger amplitude north of the equator. The westward phase speeds are estimated by several different methods to be in the range 0.5-0.6 m s⁻¹. These observed characteristics are inconsistent with the classical theory for first vertical, first meridional mode equatorially trapped Rossby waves, which predicts a phase speed of about 0.9 m s⁻¹ with latitudinally symmetric structures of SSH and zonal velocity and antisymmetric structure of meridional velocity. The observations are even less consistent with the latitudinal structures of SSH and geostrophic velocity components for other modes of the classical theory.The latitudinal asymmetries deduced here have also been consistently observed in past analyses of subsurface thermal data and altimeter data and have been variously attributed to sampling errors in the observational data, a superposition of multiple meridional Rossby wave modes, asymmetric forcing by the wind, and forcing by cross-equatorial southerly winds in the eastern Pacific. We propose a different mechanism to account for the observed asymmetric latitudinal structure of low-frequency equatorial Rossby waves. From the free-wave solutions of a simple 1.5-layer model, it is shown that meridional shears in the mean equatorial current system significantly alter the potential vorticity gradient in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. The observed asymmetric structures of sea surface height and geostrophic velocity components are found to be a natural consequence of the shear modification of the potential vorticity gradient. The mean currents also reduce the predicted westward phase speed of first meridional mode Rossby waves, improving consistency with the observations.