A dataset of global ocean surface currents for 1999-2007 derived from Argo float trajectories: Comparison with surface drifter and TAO measurements

A dataset of surface current vectors with error estimate from 1999 to 2007 is derived from the trajectories of the Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography （Argo） drifting on surface over the global ocean. The error of the estimated surface currents is about 4.7 cm s-1 which is equivalent to the accuracy of the currents determined from the surface drifters. Geographically, the Argo-derived surface currents can fill many gaps left by the Global Drifter Program due to the greater number of floats, and can provide a complementary in situ observational system for monitoring global ocean surface currents. The surface currents from the Argo floats are compared with the surface drifter-derived currents and the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean program （TAO） measurements. The comparisons show good agreement for both the current amplitude and the direction of surface currents. Results indicate the feasibility of obtaining ocean surface currents from the Argo array and of combining the surface currents from Argo and the ocean surface drifters for in situ mapping of the global surface currents. The authors also make the dataset available to users of interest for many types of applications.     

ARGO全球海洋观测网与我国海洋监测技术的发展

本文主要介绍了最近国际上继“热带海洋大气观测网”（后），正在建立的又一个更大规模的全球海洋观测网，即“地转海洋学实时观测阵（ARGO）”的建设及进展情况。并浅析了该网对我国大气、海洋科学研究的科学意义，以及我国加入该观测网建设的重要性和必要性。     

2004年-2013年WindSat海表面温度产品与浮标观测对比

利用美国国家浮标数据中心NDBC和热带大气海洋计划TAO浮标的海表面温度数据,对WindSat 2004年-2013年近10年的海表面温度产品进行了验证。结果表明,在美国沿岸海域,WindSat反演得到的海表面温度的平均偏差为0.10℃,标准偏差为0.59℃;在近赤道太平洋海域,反演得到的海表面温度的平均偏差为-0.15℃,标准偏差为0.33℃。WindSat海表面温度在夏季相对浮标实测值有正偏差增大和负偏差缩小的趋势,在美国东海岸以及墨西哥湾区域部分站点反演得到的海表面温度的标准偏差较大,其标准偏差超过1℃。在5-10 m/s风速段,WindSat海表面温度反演效果比较理想,平均偏差和标准偏差相对恒定。当风速大于12 m/s时,WindSat海表面温度反演的不确定性明显增加。与AMSR-E月平均海表面温度产品对比发现,夏季,WindSat SST较AMSR-E偏低;冬季,WindSat SST较AMSR-E偏高。     

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.     

Construction of surface wind stress fields with high temporal resolution using ERS-1 scatterometer data

Wind stress fields with high temporal resolution over the North Pacific have been constructured by using ERS-1 scatterometer data. A simple objective analysis, a successive correction method, was used to construct the fields. Several necessary parameters used in the method are examined by a simulation based on the climatological data. The meridional decorrelation scale of the wind stress depends strongly on the season, while the zonal decorrelation scale is highly stable. We determined the decorrelation scale depending on the location and the time and applied to the successive correction method. The monthly mean field constructed by averaging the daily mean data is free from an aliasing error, which is a serious problem if a simple monthly averaging is applied. The daily wind stress data obtained in the present study represent small time- and spatial-scale variation and large amplitudes compared with data interpolated from simple monthly mean data. The satellite-derived data are also compared with in situ data obtained by meteorological buoys. The satellite wind speeds are lower than in situ wind speeds for every buoy. This underestimation is not due to the present objective analysis, but due to the original data, the ERS-1 Scatterometer Value-Added Product.     

The equatorial undercurrent, meridional overturning circulation, and their roles in mass and heat exchanges during El Niño events in the tropical Pacific ocean

The equatorial undercurrent (EUC), the shallow meridional overturning cells feeding it, and their role in El Niño and decadal variability in the equatorial Pacific are studied using both in situ data and an ocean general circulation model. Using temperature and current data from the TAO/TRITON moorings at the equator, their data gaps are filled and it was shown that continuous time series of mass transport, temperature, depth, and kinetic energy of the EUC could be constructed for the period 1980–2002 with an excellent accuracy. This dataset was analysed and used to validate the output from an oceanic general circulation model (OGCM). The OGCM was then used to find that variations in the strength of the EUC, shallow meridional overturning (pycnocline convergence and surface divergence), and equatorial upwelling had the same variations in mass transport on interannual and longer time scales within the period 1951–1999. These variations are all caused by variations of the zonal wind stress zonally integrated, in agreement with simple linear and steady dynamics theories. Impact of these mass transport variations and of temperature variations on heat budgets in the entire equatorial band of the Pacific and in its eastern part are quantified.     

2010/2011年中部型La Nia事件形成机理及其垂直环流异常

应用TAO(Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project)热带太平洋实测海温和风场资料,分析研究了2010/2011年La Nia事件的变化特征,讨论了此次过程中赤道太平洋次表层异常海温的变化特征及其传播过程,以及上层海温场的异常变化机理。结果表明,2010/2011年的La Nia事件与传统事件不同,是一次明显的中部型La Nia事件(简称CPP La Nia),其爆发过程主要存在两个不同机制的响应过程:一是西太平洋暖池(WPWP)区域次表层异常冷海温通过赤道潜流的作用沿温跃层东传,导致赤道东太平洋上层海洋温度场出现异常降温:二是赤道中东太平洋出现强的距平东风,通过上升流作用,导致冷海温上传影响中太平洋上层异常海温场。前者是导致La Nia事件的必要条件,后者则是形成此次中部型La Nia事件的关键过程。由分析结果还表明,日界线以东赤道太平洋纬向风变化对中西太平洋上层海温场变化有重要影响,是导致此次中部型事件爆发的重要机制。文章进一步分析了此次中部型La Nia事件过程中热带垂直环流的变化,结果表明经向和纬向大气环流都表现出明显的异常。     

2009/2010年El Ni(n)o事件变化特征及其机理

应用TAO (Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project)热带太平洋实测海温和风场资料,分析研究了发生在2009/2010年的El Ni(n)o事件的变化特征,讨论了此次El Ni(n)o事件发生过程中,赤道东、西太平洋次表层异常海温的变化特征及其传播过程,特别是对赤道太平洋次表层异常海温变化的...     

西太平洋副热带高压变化与赤道太平洋海温场的联系

通过对西太平洋副热带高压变化的多年统计分析,发现其具有明显的年际和年代际变化特征,副高面积和强度均存在3~4 a和11~14 a显著周期,副高西伸脊点存在3~5 a和准13 a显著周期。副高面积和强度变化基本一致,与赤道中东太平洋海表温度（SST）存在显著的正相关关系,西伸脊点与中东太平洋海表温度变化则存在负的相关关系。赤道太平洋不同经度的SST与副高变化存在明显的差异,赤道中太平洋SST异常与副高变化的关系最为密切,东太平洋相对偏弱,而西太平洋呈现相反的相关关系。由此可以认为,赤道中太平洋异常SST变化是影响副高变化的关键区域。根据它们之间存在的密切关系,通过回归分析,建立了它们二者之间的回归方程,对2013年春夏季副高的强度和西伸脊点位置变化进行了预测,为2013年我国汛期降水预测提供一定的参考。