Effects of interannual salinity variability on the barrier layer in the western-central equatorial Pacific: A diagnostic analysis from Argo

ABSTRACT In this paper, interannual variations in the barrier layer thickness （BLT） are analyzed using Argo three-dimensional temperature and salinity data, with a locus on the effects of interannually varying salinity on the evolution of the El Nifio Southern Oscillation （ENSO）. The interannually varying BLT exhibits a zonal seesaw pattern across the equatorial Pacific during ENSO cycles. This phenomenon has been attributed to two different physical processes. During E1 Nifio （La Nifia）, the barrier layer （BL） is anomalously thin （thick） west of about 160°E, and thick （thin） to the east. In the western equatorial Pacific （the western part： 130°-160°E）, interannual variations of the BLT indicate a lead of one year relative to those of the ENSO onset. The interannual variations of the BLT can be largely attributed to the interannual temperature variability, through its dominant effect on the isothermal layer depth （ILD）. However, in the central equatorial Pacific （the eastern part： 160~E- 170~W）, interannual variations of the BL almost synchronously vary with ENSO, with a lead of about two months relative to those of the local SST. In this region, the interannual variations of the BL are significantly affected by the interannually varying salinity, mainly through its modulation effect on the mixed layer depth （MLD）. As evaluated by a onedimensional boundary layer ocean model, the BL around the dateline induced by interannual salinity anomalies can significantly affect the temperature fields in the upper ocean, indicating a positive feedback that acts to enhance ENSO.     

Argo资料的全球上层海温年和半年周期振荡的空间分布特征

利用小波分析方法,对2003-2008年周平均的Argo(地转海洋学实时观测阵)海温资料进行了分析,给出了全球上层海温年周期和半年周期振荡的空间分布特征.结果表明,南北半球中高纬地区以表层海温的年周期变化为主,在低纬度地区,表层海温以半年周期为主,而温跃层附近海温既有年周期也有半年周期(赤道太平洋、东南印度洋和赤道西大西洋以年周期为主;赤道东、西印度洋以半年周期为主).南北半球中高纬的年周期海温和北半球中纬度的半年周期海温在表层范围最大,显著性最高,强度最强,位相最前.随深度的增加,范围减小,显著性降低,强度减弱,位相滞后.信号主要集中在水深50 m以上,影响深度在150m以浅;赤道附近的太平洋和热带东南印度洋的年周期海温以及赤道东、西印度洋的半年周期海温在水深100m范围最大,显著性最高,强度最强,位相最前,信号主要集中在温跃层附近,影响深度均可达500m.     

Argo观测剖面数据量的时间变化与周期分析

海洋渔业预报使用的遥感数据一般只能获得海洋表面的环境信息,而Argo数据可以为渔业预报提供较深处的温盐数据,为了在渔业预报中按其时间周期进行使用,需要计算它的周期以提高预报质量。通过功率谱估计计算出2001-2008年的数据存在的较长的周期为62．7天和117．5天,较短的周期为4．9天和9．8天,同时还有一个约为7天的不明显周期,观测剖面数据总量在年际与年内都存在较大变化。     

Foraminiferal evidence for a pre‐middle eocene age of the chatham rise,New Zealand

Several sediment samples collected from the crest and slope of the Chatham Rise, and from the Chatham Islands, to the east of New Zealand, contain Globigerina linaperta‐Globorotalia increbescens foraminiferal faunas of upper Middle and middle Upper Eocene age. The foraminiferal faunas from the Chatham Islands, which include Rectuvigerina, Latibolivina, Dyocibicides, Discorbinella, Patellina, and Wadella, indicate shallow‐water palaeodepths, probably equivalent to the outer shelf (50–150 m). A faunal assemblage from near the crest of the rise is likewise indicative of shallow water, although distinct differences in the benthonic foraminiferal ifauna suggest slightly deeper‐water biofacies than the Eocene of the Chatham Islands. In contrast, a fauna of similar age from 1,100 m on the southern slope of the Chatham Rise contains a much deeper‐water benthonic foraminiferal assemblage including Osangularia, Vulvulina, Stilostomella, hispidocostate Uvigerina, and smooth‐shelled Bulimina, indicative of lower middle bathyal depths (1,500–2,500 m).

The nature and distribution of the assemblages, together with previous work by Norris (1964) and Cullen (1965), indicates that the Chatham Rise has been a significant structure since at least the Middle Eocene, with some uplift occurring since then.     

Estimating the Isoneutral Slope and Tracer Diffusion from Argo Observations

Tracer diffusion is an important issue in ocean modeling, and isoneutral slope is key to parameterization of tracer diffusion in the ocean interior when using the isoneutral/dianeutral scheme. In this study, multiyear mean temperature, salinity, and pressure-gridded products that cover the upper 2000 m of the global ocean are created by employing all the Argo float observations up to date. Comparison with WOA09 data indicates that Argo temperature and salinity depict the reality well. Based on the reliable Argo gridded products, the in situ density fields are calculated. Then isoneutral slope in the ocean interior deep to 2000 m was determined by using the Argo-derived density. Taking advantage of isoneutral slope, therefore, diffusion tensor as well as isoneutral tracer diffusion flux can be obtained in combination of the tracer diffusion coefficient. The aim of this work is to propose a procedure to estimate the isoneutral slope using Argo observations and to offer new isoneutral slope-gridded products in the hope of further facilitating the parameterization of isoneutral tracer diffusion in geopotential (Z-coordinate) ocean models.     

Impact of eddies on ocean diapycnal mixing in Gulf Stream region

Based on high-resolution,Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography(Argo)profiles and Sea Level Anomaly(SLA)data,this study statistically analyzes and compares turbulent diapycnal mixing profiles inside and outside mesoscale eddies in the Gulf Stream region.The result indicates that average diapycnal diffusivity at 300–540 m depths in anticyclonic eddies reaches4.0×10-5 m2 s-1.This is significantly higher than the 1.6×10-5 m2 s-1 outside eddies and 0.8×10-5 m2 s-1 in cyclonic eddies.Probabilities of diapycnal diffusivity greater than 10-4 m2 s-1 within anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies and outside eddies are29%,5%and 12%,respectively.However,magnitudes of average diapycnal diffusivity at 540–900 m depths in these three cases are of the same order,10-5 m2 s-1.Twenty-four of a total 38 anticyclonic eddies had enhanced mixing in the ocean interior,and 22 were observed during or shortly after strong winds.The coincidence between enhanced mixing and strong wind stress indicates that more wind-induced,near-inertial wave energy propagates downward in anticyclonic eddies.The deeper part of 12 profiles(below 540 m)in anticyclonic eddies had vertical overturns with Thorpe scale exceeding 5 m,among which three profiles had overturns reaching 20 m.Enhanced mixing may have occurred in deep layers of some profiles,although it was not evident in average conditions.     

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 effectivemethod for improving the accuracy of Argo objective analysis

Based on the optimal interpolation objective analysis of the Argo data, improvements are made to the em- pirical formula of a background error covariance matrix widely used in data assimilation and objective anal- ysis systems. Specifically, an estimation of correlation scales that can improve effectively the accuracy of Ar- go objective analysis has been developed. This method can automatically adapt to the gradient change of a variable and is referred to as ＂gradient-dependent correlation scale method＂. Its effect on the Argo objective analysis is verified theoretically with Gaussian pulse and spectrum analysis. The results of one-dimensional simulation experiment show that the gradient-dependent correlation scales can improve the adaptability of the objective analysis system, making it possible for the analysis scheme to fully absorb the shortwave information of observation in areas with larger oceanographic gradients. The new scheme is applied to the Argo data obiective analysis system in the Pacific Ocean. The results are obviously improved.     

联合Argo浮标、卫星测高和GRACE数据研究海平面变化

卫星测高、GRACE、Argo等数据为监测海平面变化提供了丰富的观测数据,利用Argo数据计算的比容海平面变化,可以更加深入地理解卫星测高以及卫星重力获得的海平面变化。利用2004年1月至2010年12月间Argo浮标采集的温度和盐度数据,通过数值积分方法计算了65°S~65°N间的比容海平面异常,并通过最小二乘拟合得到比容海平面变化的长期趋势为0.63±0.45 mm/a,与Llovel得到的结果吻合较好。利用卫星测高数据得到该时间段内海平面变化趋势为2.52±0.71 mm/a,GRACE反演得到的海水质量变化引起的海平面趋势为1.84±0.13mm/a,结果表明海水质量变化成为引起海平面变化的主要因素。最后对联合卫星测高、GRACE得到比容海平面变化与相应Argo浮标数据计算结果的空间分布特征进行了比较。     

基于Argo浮标和EOF建立区域海水三维声速场的方法

本文提出了一种利用Argo浮标数据和经验正交函数(EOF)建立区域海水三维声速场的方法。利用局部区域内的Argo观测数据对该方法进行了验证,利用少量Argo浮标数据即可建立精度较高的三维海水声速场模型,预测区域内任意剖面的中误差在1 m/s左右。