Characteristics and variability of the Indonesian throughflow water at the outflow straits

Property structure and variability of the Indonesian Throughflow Water in the major outflow straits (Lombok, Ombai and Timor) are revised from newly available data sets and output from a numerical model. Emphasis is put on the upper layers of the Indonesian Throughflow that impacts the heat and freshwater fluxes of the South Equatorial Current in the Indian Ocean. During the April–June monsoon transition the salinity maximum signature of the North Pacific thermocline water is strongly attenuated. This freshening of the thermocline layer is more intense in Ombai and is related to the supply of fresh near-surface Java Sea water that is drawn eastward by surface monsoon currents and subject to strong diapycnal mixing. The freshwater exits to the Indian Ocean first through Lombok Strait and later through Ombai and Timor, with an advective phase lag of between one and five months. Because of these phase lags, the fresher surface and thermocline water is found in the southeast Indian Ocean from the beginning of the monsoon transition period in April through until the end of the southeast monsoon in September, a much longer time period than previously estimated.     

Reconstruction of vertical thermal structure from several subsurface temperatures in the China Seas and adjacent waters

Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis is used in this study to generate main eigenvector fields of historical temperature for the China Seas (here referring to Chinese marine territories) and adjacent waters from 1930 to 2002 (510 143 profiles). A good temperature profile is reconstructed based on several subsurface in situ temperature observations and the thermocline was estimated using the model. The results show that: 1) For the study area, the former four principal components can explain 95% of the overall variance, and the vertical distribution of temperature is most stable using the in situ temperature observations near the surface. 2) The model verifications based on the observed CTD data from the East China Sea (ECS), South China Sea (SCS) and the areas around Taiwan Island show that the reconstructed profiles have high correlation with the observed ones with the confidence level >95%, especially to describe the characteristics of the thermocline well. The average errors between the reconstructed and observed profiles in these three areas are 0.69°C, 0.52°C and 1.18°C respectively. It also shows the model RMS error is less than or close to the climatological error. The statistical model can be used to well estimate the temperature profile vertical structure. 3) Comparing the thermocline characteristics between the reconstructed and observed profiles, the results in the ECS show that the average absolute errors are 1.5m, 1.4 m and 0.17°C/m, and the average relative errors are 24.7%, 8.9% and 22.6% for the upper, lower thermocline boundaries and the gradient, respectively. Although the relative errors are obvious, the absolute error is small. In the SCS, the average absolute errors are 4.1 m, 27.7 m and 0.007°C/m, and the average relative errors are 16.1%, 16.8% and 9.5% for the upper, lower thermocline boundaries and the gradient, respectively. The average relative errors are all <20%. Although the average absolute error of the lower thermocline boundary is considerable, but contrast to the spatial scale of average depth of the lower thermocline boundary (165 m), the average relative error is small (16.8%). Therefore the model can be used to well estimate the thermocline. Supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.KZCX-3W-222; KZCX2-YW-Q11-02) and National Basic Research Program of China (No.2007CB411802; 2006CB403601)     

Warming in the Northwestern Indian Ocean Associated with the El Ni(n)o Event

This paper investigates possible warming effects of an El Ni(n)o event on the sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA)in the northwestern Indian Ocean.Most pure positive Indian Ocean dipole(IOD)events (without an El Ni(n)o event co-occurring) have a maximum positive SSTA mainly in the central Indian Ocean south of the equator.while most co-occurrences with an El Ni(n)o event exhibit a northwest-southeast typical dipole mode.It is therefore inferred that warming in the northwestern Indian Ocean is closely related to the El Ni(n)o event.Based on the atmospheric bridge theory,warming in the northwestern Indian Ocean during co-occurring cases may be primarily caused by relatively less latent heat loss from the ocean due to reduced wind speed.The deepened thermocline also contributes to the warming along the east coast of Africa through the suppressed upwelling of the cold water.Therefore,the El Ni(n)o event is suggested to have a modulating effect on the structure of the dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean.     

ENSO相联系的热带太平洋上层海洋异常环流

本文使用SODA(simple ocean data assimilation)海洋同化资料,系统分析了厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation,ENSO)循环中冷暖位相期间热带太平洋上层海洋环流的演变规律,探讨了形成海洋环流异常的新机制。结果表明,在厄尔尼诺成熟期,热带中东太平洋赤道潜流最弱,赤道两侧出现反气旋性环流异常;西太平洋赤道外热带海域出现气旋性环流异常,该区南、北赤道流、棉兰老流、黑潮、新几内亚沿岸潜流及南赤道逆流增强;北赤道逆流区出现异常气旋性环流串,北赤道逆流接近正常。在厄尔尼诺衰退期和拉尼娜发展期,热带中西太平洋赤道潜流达到极强,赤道两侧出现气旋性环流异常;西太平洋赤道外热带海域异常环流减弱,该处主要流场的强度减弱或处于正常状态;北赤道逆流区反转为异常西向流。结果表明, ENSO循环期间的上层海洋环流异常受到热带太平洋温跃层深度异常产生的压强梯度力异常调控,在赤道外热带海洋温跃层深度异常和科里奥利力共同作用产生大尺度海洋环流异常,而在赤道海域,海洋温跃层深度异常和Gill效应造成赤道潜流异常以及关于赤道对称的气旋或反气旋性环流异常。     

近40年来对南海化学海洋学研究的新认知

作为西太平洋最大的边缘海, 南海在全球海洋和海洋学研究中占有重要地位。近40年来, 南海的化学海洋学研究取得了大量系统的新发现、新认识, 提出了不少新的理论观点, 对全球海洋学的发展进步做出了重要贡献。研究发现了南海次表层存在以海水亚硝酸盐为代表的生态环境参数极值现象, 不同参数水层深度范围不同, 由此形成的跃层生态系统有着与其他生态系统显著不同的特点。从系统研究获知, 南海碳循环过程十分复杂, 生物作用下的生物泵过程以及碳源汇区域和季节变化巨大, 南海碳源汇在不同的区域不同的时间的性质和强度迥异, 全年尺度上总体表现为大气二氧化碳的弱源。南海北部的珠江口邻近海域和深海盆的生态环境特征与化学物质循环和陆架边缘海、珊瑚礁等密切相关, 但又与陆架边缘海、珊瑚礁等显著不同, 表现为珠江口底层存在缺氧现象, 珠江口海域是一个以缺氧为特征的生态脆弱区。在系统认识南沙珊瑚礁生态系统物质循环快速、生物过程控制着化学物质的垂直转移的基础上, 提出了维持珊瑚礁生态系统高生产力的新机制——“拟流网理论”。对南海沉积物化学的系统研究认识到, 沉积物-水体化学物质循环有密切的耦合关系, 南海珊瑚礁或沉积岩心化学物质分布变化可反演其历史变化, 如南海冰期表层海水古生产力为间冰期的1.6倍; 晚中新世南海南部发生了一次“生物勃发事件”, 其生产力主要受季风和陆源营养物质输入量影响; 东北季风与西南季风在不同区域其影响程度不同等。40年来南海化学海洋学研究的这些新发现和新认识对系统揭示南海的海洋学过程奠定了强有力的基础, 未来南海化学海洋学研究也必将为南海资源环境的可持续利用提供科学支撑。     

Mixed-layer water oscillations in tropical Pacific for ENSO cycle

The main modes of interannal variabilities of thermocline and sea surface wind stress in the tropical Pacific and their interactions are investigated,which show the following results.(1) The thermocline anomalies in the tropical Pacific have a zonal dipole pattern with 160°W as its axis and a meridional seesaw pattern with 6-8°N as its transverse axis.The meridional oscillation has a phase lag of about 90° to the zonal oscillation,both oscillations get together to form the El Ni?o/La Ni?a cycle,which be-haves as a mixed layer water oscillates anticlockwise within the tropical Pacific basin between equator and 12°N.(2) There are two main patterns of wind stress anomalies in the tropical Pacific,of which the first component caused by trade wind anomaly is characterized by the zonal wind stress anomalies and its corresponding divergences field in the equatorial Pacific,and the abnormal cross-equatorial flow wind stress and its corresponding divergence field,which has a sign opposite to that of the equatorial region,in the off-equator of the tropical North Pacific,and the second component represents the wind stress anomalies and corresponding divergences caused by the ITCZ anomaly.(3) The trade winds anomaly plays a decisive role in the strength and phase transition of the ENSO cycle,which results in the sea level tilting,provides an initial potential energy to the mixed layer water oscillation,and causes the opposite thermocline displacement between the west side and east side of the equator and also between the equator and 12°N of the North Pacific basin,therefore determines the amplitude and route for ENSO cycle.The ITCZ anomaly has some effects on the phase transition.(4) The thermal anomaly of the tropical western Pacific causes the wind stress anomaly and extends eastward along the equator accompanied with the mixed layer water oscillation in the equatorial Pacific,which causes the trade winds anomaly and produces the anomalous wind stress and the corresponding divergence in favor to conduce the oscillation,which in turn intensifies the oscillation.The coupled system of ocean-atmo-sphere interactions and the inertia gravity of the mixed layer water oscillation provide together a phase-switching mechanism and interannual memory for the ENSO cycle.In conclusion,the ENSO cycle essentially is an inertial oscillation of the mixed layer water induced by both the trade winds anomaly and the coupled ocean-atmosphere interaction in the tropical Pacific basin between the equator and 12°N.When the force produced by the coupled ocean-atmosphere interaction is larger than or equal to the resistance caused by the mixed layer water oscillation,the oscillation will be stronger or maintain as it is,while when the force is less than the resistance,the oscillation will be weaker,even break.     

赤道印度洋海温异常与偶极子季节变化特征

利用Scripps海温再分析资料,对赤道印度洋0～400m深度范围内海温变化和偶极子异常变化特征进行了初步分析。结果显示,赤道印度洋上层海温呈现西低东高,而次表层以下海温则为西高东低。同时发现,温跃层是赤道印度洋上、下层很好的分界面。温跃层之上海温变化受海气相互作用明显,之下海温变化主要受海洋自身的运动影响。赤道印度洋偶极子现象存在于各个深度,其偶极子指数变化存在半年周期,季节变化表现为双峰双谷型,并从深层（400m）向表层传递。分析发现,海气相互作用不是表层赤道印度洋偶极子变化的决定因素。较深层偶极子变化决定于海洋自身的运动变化特征（如洋流）,并向上层传输,进而影响上层偶极子的异常变化。赤道印度洋偶极子指数由西印度洋和东印度洋海温变化共同制约,但西印度洋海温变化起主导作用,东印度洋仅起到加强或减弱偶极子强度变化的作用。     

近7300 aBP以来冲绳海槽北部上升流的演化

对取自冲绳海槽北部的DOC024岩心进行了浮游有孔虫氧同位素和统计分析,依据浮游有孔虫群落组合和Neogloboquadrina dutertrei δ18O的记录以及表层海水温度、温跃层深度的变化揭示了近7300 aBP以来日本九州西南海区上升流的演化过程。7300~7000 aBP期间,较轻的δ18O值、较高的年平均表层海水温度以及典型上升流种Globigerina bulloides的低含量和较大的温跃层深度指示这一时期该海区上升流尚不发育,其环境主要受黑潮暖流的控制;7000~4800 aBP期间,区域环境略有变化,上升流开始出现,但发育程度不高;在4800~4200 aBP期间,各环境参数的变化都说明该时期为上升流的迅速发育期,并逐渐取代黑潮成为该区环境的主要控制因素。1900~1200 aBP期间上升流发育程度有所减弱,1200~400 aBP之间上升流的发育又逐渐增强,到约400aBP以后,N.dutertrei δ18O的明显加重、年平均表层海水温度的显著下降、Globigerina bulloides含量的快速增加和温跃层的明显变浅指示近400 aBP以来是区域上升流发育程度最强的时期。     

Warming in the Northwestern Indian Ocean Associated with the El Nio Event

This paper investigates possible warming effects of an El Nino event on the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the northwestern Indian Ocean. Most pure positive Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) events (without an El Nino event co-occurring) have a maximum positive SSTA mainly in the central Indian Ocean south of the equator, while most co-occurrences with an El Nino event exhibit a northwest-southeast typical dipole mode. It is therefore inferred that warming in the northwestern Indian Ocean is closely related to the El Nino event. Based on the atmospheric bridge theory, warming in the northwestern Indian Ocean during co-occurring cases may be primarily caused by relatively less latent heat loss from the ocean due to reduced wind speed. The deepened thermocline also contributes to the warming along the east coast of Africa through the suppressed upwelling of the cold water. Therefore, the El Nino event is suggested to have a modulating effect on the structure of the dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean.     

声跃层结构变化对深海汇聚区声传播的影响

根据射线理论建立了线性声速结构条件下的声跃层强度与深海汇聚区关系模型,用最小位移角讨论了海洋环境变化（如声跃层强度变化、声跃层位置变化及季节性跃层生消等）与汇聚区距离和宽度变化的相关性.结果表明,声跃层的结构变化对汇聚区特征影响很大.声跃层强度增大使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,跃层强度每增加0.01 s-1对应的汇聚区位移增大约为3.5～5.0 km.声跃层位置变化对汇聚区的影响小于声跃层强度,与两层结构的声速剖面相比,上行结构使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化,声跃层上升200 m对应的汇聚区位移减小约为1.0～1.5 km,声跃层越浅,汇聚区距离越近;下行结构使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,混合层加深200 m对应的汇聚区位移增大约为1.0～1.5 km,混合层越深,汇聚区距离越远.季节性跃层的生消使近表层有负梯度、零梯度和正梯度的变化.负梯度结构的变化规律与两层结构条件下的声跃层强度变化类似,但对汇聚区的影响程度相对较小;正梯度结构使汇聚区在近表层出现表面声道,梯度值的增强将使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化.