Absolute geostrophic currents in the North Pacific Ocean were calculated using P-vector method from newly gridded Argo profiling float data collected during 2004-2009. The meridional volume transport of geostrophic cu...Absolute geostrophic currents in the North Pacific Ocean were calculated using P-vector method from newly gridded Argo profiling float data collected during 2004-2009. The meridional volume transport of geostrophic currents differed significantly from the classical Sverdrup balance, with differences of 10×106 -20×106 m3 /s in the interior tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean. Analyses showed that errors of wind stress estimation could not explain all of the differences. The largest differences were found in the areas immediately north and south of the bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current west of the dateline, and in the recirculation area of the Kuroshio and its extension, where nonlinear eddy activities were robust. Comparison of the geostrophic meridional transport and the wind-driven Sverdrup meridional transport in a high-resolution OFES simulation showed that nonlinear effects of the ocean circulation were the most likely reason for the differences. It is therefore suggested that the linear, steady wind-driven dynamics of the Sverdrup theory cannot completely explain the meridional transport of the interior circulation of the tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean.展开更多
Based on gridded Argo profile data from January 2004 to December 2010, together with the P-vector inverse method, the three-dimensional structure, annual and inter-annual variations in volume of the Western Pacific Wa...Based on gridded Argo profile data from January 2004 to December 2010, together with the P-vector inverse method, the three-dimensional structure, annual and inter-annual variations in volume of the Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP) are studied. The variations of latitudinal and longitudinal warm water flowing into and out of the WPWP and the probable mechanism of warm water maintenance are also discussed. From the surface to the bottom, climatic WPWP tilts southward and its area decreases. The maximum depth could extend to 120 m, such that its volume could attain 1.86×1015 m3. Annual variation of the WPWP volume shows two obvious peaks that occur in June and October, whereas its inter-annual variations are related to ENSO events. Based on a climatic perspective, the warm water flowing latitudinally into the pool is about 52 Sv, which is mainly through upper layers and via the eastern boundary. Latitudinally, warm water flowing outward is about 49 Sv, and this is mainly through lower layers and via the western boundary. In contrast, along the latitude, warm water flowing into and out of the pool is about 28 Sv and 23 Sv, respectively. Annual and inter-annual variations of the net transportation of the warm water demonstrate that the WPWP mainly loses warm water in the west-east direction, whereas it receives warm water from the north-south direction. The annual variation of the volume of WPWP is highly related to the annual variation of the net warm water transportation, however, they are not closely related on inter-annual time scale. On the inter-annual time scale, influences of ENSO events on the net warm water transportation in the north-south direction are much more than that in the west-east direction. Although there are some limitations and simplifications when using the P-vector method, it could still help improve our understanding of the WPWP, especially regarding the sources of the warm water.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2012CB956000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.40888001,41176019)supported by KLOCAW1208
文摘Absolute geostrophic currents in the North Pacific Ocean were calculated using P-vector method from newly gridded Argo profiling float data collected during 2004-2009. The meridional volume transport of geostrophic currents differed significantly from the classical Sverdrup balance, with differences of 10×106 -20×106 m3 /s in the interior tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean. Analyses showed that errors of wind stress estimation could not explain all of the differences. The largest differences were found in the areas immediately north and south of the bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current west of the dateline, and in the recirculation area of the Kuroshio and its extension, where nonlinear eddy activities were robust. Comparison of the geostrophic meridional transport and the wind-driven Sverdrup meridional transport in a high-resolution OFES simulation showed that nonlinear effects of the ocean circulation were the most likely reason for the differences. It is therefore suggested that the linear, steady wind-driven dynamics of the Sverdrup theory cannot completely explain the meridional transport of the interior circulation of the tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean.
基金supported by the Special Program for the National Basic Research (Grant No. 2012FY112300)SOED HPCC of the Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration for support and assistance
文摘Based on gridded Argo profile data from January 2004 to December 2010, together with the P-vector inverse method, the three-dimensional structure, annual and inter-annual variations in volume of the Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP) are studied. The variations of latitudinal and longitudinal warm water flowing into and out of the WPWP and the probable mechanism of warm water maintenance are also discussed. From the surface to the bottom, climatic WPWP tilts southward and its area decreases. The maximum depth could extend to 120 m, such that its volume could attain 1.86×1015 m3. Annual variation of the WPWP volume shows two obvious peaks that occur in June and October, whereas its inter-annual variations are related to ENSO events. Based on a climatic perspective, the warm water flowing latitudinally into the pool is about 52 Sv, which is mainly through upper layers and via the eastern boundary. Latitudinally, warm water flowing outward is about 49 Sv, and this is mainly through lower layers and via the western boundary. In contrast, along the latitude, warm water flowing into and out of the pool is about 28 Sv and 23 Sv, respectively. Annual and inter-annual variations of the net transportation of the warm water demonstrate that the WPWP mainly loses warm water in the west-east direction, whereas it receives warm water from the north-south direction. The annual variation of the volume of WPWP is highly related to the annual variation of the net warm water transportation, however, they are not closely related on inter-annual time scale. On the inter-annual time scale, influences of ENSO events on the net warm water transportation in the north-south direction are much more than that in the west-east direction. Although there are some limitations and simplifications when using the P-vector method, it could still help improve our understanding of the WPWP, especially regarding the sources of the warm water.
