Local advective mechanism for interdecadal variability in circulations driven by constant surface heat fluxes in idealized basins |
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Authors: | Young-Gyu Park Jin Hwan Hwang |
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Institution: | (1) KFKI Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, H-1525 Budapest, 49, Hungary;(2) CESR, 9, Avenue du Colonel ROCHE, 31028 TOULOUSE CEDEX 4, France |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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