Comparison Between Early and Late 21stC Phytoplankton Biomass and Dimethylsulfide Flux in the Subantarctic Southern Ocean

Time-series of chlorophyll-a(CHL),a proxy for phytoplankton biomass,and various satellite-derived climate indicators are compared in a region of the Subantarctic Southern Ocean(40°-60°S,110°-140°E)for years 2012-2014.CHL reached a minimum in winter(June)and a maximum in late summer(early February).Zonal mean CHL decreased towards the south.Mean sea surface temperature(SST)ranged between 8℃and 15℃and peaked in late February.CHL and SST were positively correlated from March to June,negatively correlated from July to September.CHL and wind speed(WIND)were negatively correlated with peak WIND occurred in winter.Wind direction(WIRD)was mostly in the southwest to westerly direction.The Antarctic Oscillation index(AAO)and CHL were negatively correlated(R=−0.58),indicating that as synoptic wind systems move southwards,CHL increases,and conversely when wind systems move northwards,CHL decreases.A genetic algorithm is used to calibrate the biogeochemical DMS model’s key parameters.Under 4×CO2(after year 2100)Regional mean SST increases 12%-17%,WIND increases 1.2ms−1,Cloud Cover increases 4.8%and mixed layer depth(MLD)decreases 48m.The annual CHL increases 6.3%.The annual mean DMS flux increase 25.2%,increases 37%from day 1 to day 280 and decrease 3%from day 288 to day 360.The general increase of DMS flux under 4×CO2 conditions indicates the Subantarctic regional climate would be affected by changes in the DMS flux,with the potential for a cooling effect in the austral summer and autumn.

Covariability of Subantarctic Mode Water and the Southern Branch of the Subtropical Indian Ocean Countercurrent in Argo Observations

The Subantarctic Mode Water(SAMW)forms in the deep mixed layer north of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and spreads northward into the subtropical gyre.The subtropical South Indian Countercurrent(SICC)flows eastward on the north flank of the thick SAMW layer within 22°-32°S from south of Madagascar at around 25°S,50°E toward western Australia.The dynamical relation of the SAMW and the southern branch of the SICC(30°-32°S)is investigated in this work based on the monthly mean Argo data from 2004 to 2019.The physical properties of the SAMW and its pathway from the formation region are described.Most of the SAMW in the Indian Ocean sector originates from the deep mixed layers of the southeastern Indian Ocean(about 40°S,85°-105°E)and moves along the subtropical gyre.It takes around ten years to arrive east of Madagascar Island preserving its low potential vor-ticity characteristics.As a thick layer with homogeneous vertical properties,the SAMW forces the upper pycnocline to shoal,and the associated eastward shear results in the surface-intensified SICC.The SAMW forms a tongue-shaped thickness pattern,which influ-ences the southern branch of the SICC above the northern flank of the thickest SAMW layer between 24°S and 32°S.The seasonal,interannual,and decade variations of the southern branch of the SICC are closely related to the meridional gradient of the underlying SAMW thickness.The SAMW thickened and strengthened from 2005 to 2015,thereby anchoring a strengthened SICC.The interan-nual covariability of the SAMW and SICC further supports the SAMW’s role in driving SICC variability.

Vertical structure of low-level atmosphere over the southeast Indian Ocean fronts

During the 25th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition, GPS radiosondes were launched to detect the atmos- pheric vertical structure over the southeast Indian Ocean frontal region. Some low-level characteristics along the cruise are studied based on in-situ observation. The observations reveal that vertical distributions of the low-level wind field and air temperature field on both sides of the Subantarctic Front are very different. A stronger （weaker） vertical gradient is on the cold （warm） side, which demonstrates that the mid-latitude ocean-atmosphere interaction is active in the southeast Indian Ocean frontal region. A low-level jet is observed over the Subantarctic Front, with speed up to 14 m＇s-1. For the Antarctic polar front, low-level wind speed near the sea surface is greater than that aloft, in contrast with the situation of the Subantarctic Front. Comparing satellite remote sensing data and widely-used reanalysis datasets with our in-situ observations, differences of varying magnitudes are found. Air temperature from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder （AIRS） data has a limited difference. The European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts Interim Re-Analysis （ERA Interim） dataset is much more consistent with the observations than the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research （NCEP/NCAR） Reanalysis 1 in the southeast Indian Ocean frontal region.