Evaluation of the Mechanisms Acting on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in CESM2 for the 1pctCO_(2) Experiment

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation(AMOC)is a crucial component of the Earth’s climate system due to its fundamental role in heat distribution,carbon and oxygen transport,and the weather.Other climate components,such as the atmosphere and sea ice,influence the AMOC.Evaluating the physical mechanisms of those interactions is paramount to increasing knowledge about AMOC’s functioning.In this study,the authors used outputs from the Community Earth System Model version 2 and observational data to investigate changes in theAMOC and the associated physical processes.Two DECK experiments were evaluated:piControl and 1pctCO_(2),with an annual increase of 1%of atmospheric CO_(2).The analysis revealed a significant decrease in the AMOC,associated with changes in mixed layer depth and buoyancy in high latitudes of the North Atlantic,resulting in the shutdown of deep convection and potentially affecting the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water.A vital aspect observed in this study is the association between increased runoff and reduced water evaporation,giving rise to a positive feedback process.Consequently,the rates of freshwater spreading have intensified during this period,which could lead to an accelerated disruption of the AMOC beyond the projections of existing models.

Surface Mixed Layer Profile of Physical and Biogeochemical Variables in the Subpolar North-West and -East Atlantic Ocean: A Data-Model Comparison Study

This paper presents a study of physical and biogeochemical variables using numerical model and mixed layer oceanographic data from a 2 - 3 year?in situmeasurements in the Northwestern and Northeastern sites of the Atlantic Ocean. Model outputs are presented and indicated that very good estimates may be obtained. The outputs showed considerable agreement in reproducing seasonal distributions of?pCO2,?pCO2-T,?pCO2-nonT, mixed layer temperature, and chlorophyll-a?in both winter and summer, and therefore provide useful physical and theoretical understanding of their biogeochemistry. The model?pCO2indicated a distinct temporal variability with seasonal changes coinciding with the change in sea surface temperature. It also provides an agreement that there is a strong seasonal cycle of mixed layer parameters filliped by nonthermal and physical factors. As an outgrowth of this work, the?pCO2?model outputs affirm the North Atlantic Ocean capacity as an important oceanographic sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxide.

Energetics of lateral eddy diffusion/advection: Part I. Thermodynamics and energetics of vertical eddy diffusion

Two important nonlinear properties of seawater thermodynamics linked to changes of water density, cab beling and elasticity （compressibility）, are discussed. Eddy diffusion and advection lead to changes in den sity; as a result, gravitational potential energy of the system is changed. Therefore, cabbeling and elasticity play key roles in the energetics of lateral eddy diffusion and advection. Vertical eddy diffusion is one of the key elements in the mechanical energy balance of the global oceans. Vertical eddy diffusion can be con ceptually separated into two steps： stirring and subscale diffusion. Vertical eddy stirring pushes cold/dense water upward and warm/light water downward; thus, gravitational potential energy is increased. During the second steps, water masses from different places mix through subscale diffusion, and water density is increased due to cabbeling. UsingWOA01 climatology and assuming the vertical eddy diffusivity is equal to a constant value of 2x103 pa2/s, the total amount of gravitational potential energy increase due to vertical stirring in the world oceans is estimated at 263 GW. Cabbeling associated with vertical subscale diffusion is a sink of gravitational potential energy, and the total value of energy lost is estimated at 73 GW. Therefore, the net source of gravitational potential energy due to vertical eddy diffusion for the world oceans is estimated at 189 GW.

Energetics of lateral eddy diffusion/advection: Part II. Numerical diffusion/diffusivity and gravitational potential energy change due to isopycnal diffusion

Study of oceanic circulation and climate requires models which can simulate tracer eddy diffusion and ad vection accurately. It is shown that the traditional Eulerian coordinates can introduce large artificial hori zontal diffusivity/viscosity due to the incorrect alignment of the axis. Therefore, such models can smear sharp fronts and introduce other numerical artifacts. For simulation with relatively low resolution, large lateral diffusion was explicitly used in models; therefore, such numerical diffusion may not be a problem. However, with the increase of horizontal resolution, the artificial diffusivity/viscosity associated with hori zontal advection in the commonly used Eulerian coordinates may become one of the most challenging ob stacles for modeling the ocean circulation accurately. Isopycnal eddy diffusion （mixing） has been widely used in numerical models. The common wisdom is that mixing along isopycnal is energy free. However, a careful examination reveals that this is not the case. In fact, eddy diffusion can be conceptually separated into two steps： stirring and subscale diffusion. Due to the thermobaric effect, stirring, or exchanging water masses, along isopycnal surface is associated with the change of GPE in the mean state. This is a new type of instability, called the thermobaric instability. In addition, due to cabbeling subscale diffusion of water parcels always leads to the release of GPE. The release of GPE due to isopycnal stirring and subscale diffusion may lead to the thermobaric instability.

Contribution of Oceanic Circulation to the Poleward Heat Flux

Oceanic contribution to the poleward heat flux in the climate system includes two components: the sensible heat flux and the latent heat flux. Although the latent heat flux has been classified as atmospheric heat flux exclusively, it is argued that oceanic control over this component of poleward heat flux should play a critically important role. The so-called swamp ocean model practice is analyzed in detail, and the critical role of oceanic circulation in the establishment of the meridional moisture transport is emphasized.

Energetics of lateral eddy diffusion/advection: Part III. Energetics of horizontal and isopycnal diffusion/ advection

Gravitational Potential Energy （GPE） change due to horizontal/isopycnal eddy diffusion and advection is examined. Horizontal/isopycnal eddy diffusion is conceptually separated into two steps： stirring and sub scale diffusion. GPE changes associated with these two steps are analyzed. In addition, GPE changes due to stirring and subscale diffusion associated with horizontal/isopycnal advection in the Eulerian coordinates are analyzed. These formulae are applied to the SODA data for the world oceans. Our analysis indicates that horizontal/isopycnal advection in Eulerian coordinates can introduce large artificial diffusion in the model. It is shown that GPE source/sink in isopycnal coordinates is closely linked to physical property distribution, such as temperature, salinity and velocity. In comparison with z-coordinates, GPE source/sink due to stir ring/cabbeling associated with isopycnal diffusion/advection is much smaller. Although isopycnal coordi nates may be a better choice in terms of handling lateral diffusion, advection terms in the traditional Eule rian coordinates can produce artificial source of GPE due to cabbeling associated with advection. Reducing such numerical errors remains a grand challenge.

Evolution of oceanic circulation theory: From gyres to eddies

Physical oceanography is now entering the eddy-resolving era.Eddies are commonly referred to the so-called mesoscale or submesoscale eddies;by definition,they have horizontal scales from 1 to 500 km and vertical scales from meters to hundreds of meters.In one word,the ocean is a turbulent environment;thus,eddy motions are one of the fundamental aspects of oceanic circulation.Studies of these eddies,including observations,theory,laboratory experiments,and parameterization in numerical models,will be the most productive research frontiers for the next 10 to 20 years,although we have made great efforts to collect data about eddies in the ocean;thus far,we know very little about the three-dimensional structure of these eddies and their contributions to the oceanic general circulation and climate.Therefore,the most important breakthrough may come from observations and physical reasoning about the fundament aspects of eddy structure and their contributions to ocean circulation and climate.

Simulation of the Internal Wave of a Subsurface Vehicle in a Two-Layer Stratified Fluid

Internal waves are one of the various phenomena that occur at sea,and they affect acoustic equipment and sea density measurement equipment.In this study,internal waves are simulated using computational fluid dynamics method in the presence of a submarine in a pre-stratified fluid.Several scenarios were implemented by Froude number changes and submersible velocity by using the Navier-Stokes k-εturbulence model.Results indicate that the realizable k-εturbulence model gives better results than the RNG k-εmodel and the internal waves flow in this model are well represented,which increases the wavelength of the internal waves by increasing the Froude number and floating velocity,while the internal angle of the Kelvin waves is decreased.We also observe that increasing the floating velocity causes the turbulent velocity contours to increase due to the drag coefficient and its relationship with the Reynolds number.The Reynolds number increases with the increasing velocity of the float motion.The results indicate the efficiency of this method in the discovery of subsurface objects.

Energetics of lateral eddy diffusion/advection: Part IV. Energetics of diffusion/advection in sigma coordinates and other coordinates

Gravitational potential energy （GPE） source and sink due to stirring and cabbeling associated with sigma dif fusion/ advection is analyzed. It is shown that GPE source and sink is too big, and they are not closely linked to physical property distribution, such as temperature, salinity and velocity. Although the most frequently quoted advantage of sigma coordinate models are their capability of dealing with topography; the exces sive amount of GPE source and sink due to stirring and cabbeling associated with sigma diffusion/advec tion diagnosed from our analysis raises a very serious question whether the way lateral diffusion/advection simulated in the sigma coordinates model is physically acceptable. GPE source and sink in three coordinates is dramatically different in their magnitude and patterns. Overall, in terms of simulating lateral eddy diffu sion and advection isopycnal coordinates is the best choice and sigma coordinates is the worst. The physical reason of the excessive GPE source and sink in sigma coordinates is further explored in details. However, even in the isopycnal coordinates, simulation based on the Eulerian coordinates can be contaminated by the numerical errors associated with the advection terms.

Geostrophic Spirals Generated by the Horizontal Diffusion of Vortex Stretching in the Yellow Sea

Horizontal velocity spirals with a clockwise rotation(downward looking) rate of 1.7?m^(-1), on average, were observed in the western and northern Yellow Sea from December 2006 to February 2007. With the observed thermal wind relation,the beta-spiral theory was used to explain the dynamics of spirals. It was found that the horizontal diffusion of geostrophic vortex stretching is likely to be a major mechanism for generating geostrophic spirals. Vertical advection associated with surface/bottom Ekman pumping and topography-induced upwelling is too weak to support these spirals. Strong wind stirring and large heat loss in wintertime lead to weak stratification and diminish the effects of vertical advection. The cooling effect and vertical diffusion are offset by an overwhelming contribution of horizontal diffusion in connection with vortex stretching. The Richardson number-dependent vertical eddy diffusivity reaches a magnitude of 10^(-4) m^2 s^(-1) on average. An eddy diffusivity of 2870 m^2 s^(-1) is required for dynamic balance by estimating the residual term. This obtained value of 10-4 m^2 s^(-1) is in good agreement with the estimation in terms of observed eddy activities. The suppressed and unsuppressed diffusivities in the observation region are 2752 and 2881 m^2 s^(-1), respectively, which supports a closed budget for velocity rotation.

Indices of strength and location for the North Pacific Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres

The adjustment of the North Pacific Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres towards changes in wind stress leads to different time-scale variabilities, which plays a significant role in climate changes. Based on the Sim- ple Ocean Data Assimilation （SODA） and Global Ocean Data Assimilation System （GODAS） datasets, the variations of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres are diagnosed using ＂three-dimension Ocean Circulation Diagnostic Method＂, and established three types of index series describe the strength, meridional and depth center of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres. The above indices present the seasonal, interannual and in- terdecadal variabilities of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres, which proves well. Both the Gyres are the strongest in winter, but the Subtropical Gyre is the weakest in summer and the Subpolar Gyre is the weakest in autumn. The Subtropical Gyre moves northward from February to March, southward in October, and to the southernmost in around January, while the Subpolar Gyre moves northward in spring, southward in summer, northward again in autumn and reaching the extreme point in winter to the south. The common feature of the interannual and interdecadal variabilities is that the two gyres were weaker and to the north before 1976-1977, while they were stronger and to the south after 1976-1977. The Subpolar Gyre has made a paramount contribution to the variability on interdecadal scales. As is indicated with the Subpolar Gyre strength indices, there was an important shift from weak to strong around 1976-1977, and the correlation coefficient with the North Pacific Decadal Oscillation （PDO） indices was 0.45, which was far better than that between the Subtropical Gyre strength indices and the PDO. Tests show that influenced by small and mesoscale eddies, the magnitude of large-scale gyres strength is strongly dependent on data resolution. But seasonal interannual and interdecadal large-scale variabilities of the two gyres presented with indices is less affected by model resolution.

Variability and Trends of Precipitation in Quelimane, Central Mozambique, and Their Relation to El Niño Southern Oscillation

Understanding precipitation variability and trends is very important for sustainable water management. In this paper, we used 65 years (1951-2016) long- term precipitation data to evaluate the precipitation variability and trends in Quelimane, and their relation to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The analysis includes annual, inter-annual inter-decadal variations, Mann-Kendall trend test, and drought frequency. The study also evaluated the relationship between Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) and precipitation patterns during ENSO positive, normal and negative phases. The results show two distinct seasons of precipitation in Quelimane, the wet season extending between December and April and the dry season extending from May to November. ENSO was found to influence the inter-annual variations of precipitation during the wet season, with warm ENSO (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) events tending to reduce and increase the precipitation amounts, respectively. Decreasing trends in inter-annual variations of precipitation and increase of drought frequency and severity are highlighted in this study. Both decreasing trend of inter-annual variations and increasing of drought frequency and severity have intensified after the 1970s climate shift. These intensifications seem to be associated with the strengthening of ENSO after the 1970s climate shift. The results of the present study may be useful for the design of the climate change adaptation plans in central Mozambique.

Simulation of Deep Water Wave Climate for the Indian Seas

The ocean wave climate has a variety of applications in Naval defence.However,a long-term and reliable wave climate for the Indian Seas(The Arabian Sea and The Bay of Bengal)over a desired grid resolution could not be established so far due to several constraints.In this study,an attempt was made for the simulation of wave climate for the Indian Seas using the third-generation wave model(3g-WAM)developed by WAMDI group.The 3g-WAM as such was implemented at NPOL for research applications.The specific importance of this investigation was that,the model utilized a“mean climatic year of winds”estimated using historical wind measurements following statistical and probabilistic approaches as the winds which were considered for this purpose were widely scattered in space and time.Model computations were carried out only for the deep waters with current refraction.The gridded outputs of various wave parameters were stored at each grid point and the spectral outputs were stored at selected locations.Monthly,seasonal and annual distributions of significant wave parameters were obtained by post-processing some of the model outputs.A qualitative validation of simulated wave height and period parameters were also carried out by comparing with the observed data.The study revealed that the results of the wave climate simulation were quite promising and they can be utilized for various operational and ocean engineering applications.Therefore,this study will be a useful reference/demonstration for conducting such experiments in the areas where wind as well as wave measurements are insufficient.

Microwave backscattering from the sea surface with breaking waves

Based on the effective medium approximation theory of composites, the whitecap-covered sea surface is treated as a medium layer of dense seawater droplets and air. Two electromagnetic scattering models of randomly rough surface are applied to the investigation of microwave backscattering of breaking waves driven by strong wind. The shapes of seawater droplets are considered by calculating the effective dielectric constant of the whitecap layer. The responses of seawater droplets shapes, such as sphere and ellipsoid, to the backscattering coefficient are discussed. Numerical results of the models are in good agreement with the experimental measurements of horizontally and vertically polarized backscattering at microwave frequency 13.9GHz and different incidence angles.

Subduction/obduction rate in the North Pacific diagnosed by an eddy-resolving model

Ventilation in the North Pacifi c is examined using data from the eddy-resolving 1/12° global HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM) and Quik SCAT wind stress data. For the period January 2004 to December 2006 and area 20°–40°N, the total annual subduction rate is estimated at 79 Sv, and the obduction rate 41 Sv. Resolving the small-scale and high-frequency components of the eddy fi eld can increase the subduction rate by 42 Sv, and obduction by 31 Sv. Lateral induction is the dominant contributor to enhancement of subduction/obduction, and temporal change of mixed layer depth has a secondary role. Further analysis indicates that the high-frequency components of the eddy fi eld, especially those with timescale shorter than 10 days, are the most critical factor enhancing subduction/obduction.

An Oceanic General Circulation Model in Pressure Coordinates

A new oceanic general circulation model in pressure coordinates is formulated. Since the bottom pressure changes with time, the vertical coordinate is actually a pressure-sigma coordinate. The numerical solution of the model is based on an energy-conservation scheme of finite difference. The most important new feature of the model is that it is a truly compressible ocean model and it is free of the Boussinesq approximations. Thus, the new model is quite different from many existing models in the following ways: 1) the exact form of mass conservation, 2) the in-situ instantaneous pressure and the UNESCO equation of state to calculate density, 3) the in-situ density in the momentum. equations, 4) finite difference schemes that conserve the total energy. Initial tests showed that the model code runs smoothly, and it is quite stable. The quasi-steady circulation patterns generated by the new model compare well with existing models, but the time evolution of the new model seems different from some existing models. Thus, the non-Boussinesq models may provide more accurate information for climate study and satellite observations.

Meso-scale available gravitational potential energy in the world oceans

The pitfalls of applying the commonly used definition of available gravitational potential energy （AGPE） to the world oceans are re-examined. It is proposed that such definition should apply to the meso-scale problems in the oceans, not the global scale. Based on WOA98 climatological data, the meso-scale AGPE in the world oceans is estimated. Unlike previous results by Oort et al. , the meso-scale AGPE is large wherever there is a strong horizontal density gradient. The distribution of meso-scale AGPE reveals the close connection between the baroclinic instability and the release of gravitational potential energy stored within the scale of Rossby deformation radius.

Adiabatic density surface,neutral density surface, potential density surface,and mixing path

In this paper,adiabatic density surface,neutral density surface and potential density surface are compared.The adiabatic density surface is defined as the surface on which a water parcel can move adiabatically,without changing its potential temperature and salinity.For a water parcel taken at a given station and pressure level,the corresponding adiabatic density surface can be determined through simple calculations.This family of surface is neutrally buoyant in the world ocean,and different from other surfaces that are not truly neutrally buoyant.In order to explore mixing path in the ocean,a mixing ratio m is introduced,which is defined as the portion of potential temperature and salinity of a water parcel that has exchanged with the environment during a segment of migration in the ocean.Two extreme situations of mixing path in the ocean are m=0(no mixing),which is represented by the adiabatic density curve,and m=1,where the original information is completely lost through mixing.The latter is represented by the neutral density curve.The reality lies in between,namely,0<m<1.In the turbulent ocean,there are potentially infinite mixing paths,some of which may be identified by using different tracers(or their combinations)and different mixing criteria.Searching for mixing paths in the real ocean presents a great challenge for further research.

Mesoscale eddies and their dispersive environmental impacts in the Persian Gulf

As the mesoscale eddies in oceans and semi-enclosed seas are significant in horizontal dispersion of pollutants,we investigate the seasonal variations of these eddies in the Persian Gulf(PG)that are usually generated due to seasonal winds and baroclinic instability.The sea surface height(SSH)data from 2010 to 2014 of AVISO are used to identify and track eddies,using the SSH-based method.Then seasonal horizontal dispersion coefficients are estimated for the PG,using the properties of eddies.The results show an annual mean of 78 eddies with a minimum lifetime of one week.Most of the eddies are predominantly cyclonic(59.1%)and have longer lifetimes and higher diffusion coefficients than the anti-cyclonic eddies.The eddy activity is higher in warm seasons,compared to that of cold seasons.As locations with high eddy diffusion coefficients are high-risk areas by using maps of horizontal eddy diffusion coefficients,perilous times and locations of the release of pollutants are specified to be within the longitude from 51.38°E to 55.28°E.The mentioned areas are located from the Strait of Hormuz towards the northeast of the PG,closer to Iranian coast.Moreover,July can be considered as the most dangerous time of pollution release.

A climatic dataset of ocean vertical turbulent mixing coefficient based on real energy sources

Using data on wind stress, significant height of combined wind waves and swell, potential temperature, salinity and seawater velocity, as well as objectively-analyzed in situ temperature and salinity, we established a global ocean dataset of calculated wind- and tide-induced vertical turbulent mixing coefficients. We then examined energy conservation of ocean vertical mixing from the point of view of ocean wind energy inputs, gravitational potential energy change due to mixing(with and without artificially limiting themixing coefficient), and K-theory vertical turbulent parameterization schemes regardless of energy inputs. Our research showed that calculating the mixing coefficient with average data and artificial limiting the mixing coefficient can cause a remarkable lack of energy conservation, with energy losses of up to 90% and changes in the energy oscillation period. The data also show that wind can introduce a huge amount of energy into the upper layers of the Southern Ocean, and that tidesdo so in regions around underwater mountains. We argue that it is necessary to take wind and tidal energy inputs into account forlong-term ocean climate numerical simulations. We believe that using this ocean vertical turbulent mixing coefficient climatic dataset is a fast and efficient method to maintain the ocean energy balance in ocean modeling research.