Zonal overturning circulation （ZOC） and its associated zonal heat flux （ZHF） are important components of the oceanic circulation and climate system, although these conceptions have not received adequate attentions...Zonal overturning circulation （ZOC） and its associated zonal heat flux （ZHF） are important components of the oceanic circulation and climate system, although these conceptions have not received adequate attentions. Heaving induced by inter-annual and decadal wind stress perturbations can give rise to anomalous ZOC and ZHF. Based on a simple reduced gravity model, the anomalous ZOC and ZHF induced by idealized heaving modes in the world oceans are studied. For example, in a Pacific-like model basin intensified equatorial easterly on decadal time scales can lead to a negative ZOC with a non-negligible magnitude （-0.3×10^6 m^3/s） and a considerable westward ZHF with an amplitude of -11.2 TW. Thus, anomalous ZOC and ZHF may consist of a major part of climate signals on decadal time scales and thus play an important role in the oceanic circulation and climate change.展开更多
Zonal heat advection （ZHA） plays an important role in the variability of the thermal structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean, especially in the western Pacific warm pool （WPWP）. Using the Simple Ocean Data Assimil...Zonal heat advection （ZHA） plays an important role in the variability of the thermal structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean, especially in the western Pacific warm pool （WPWP）. Using the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation （SODA） Version 2.02/4 for the period 1958-2007, this paper presents a detailed analysis of the climatological and seasonal ZHA in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Climatologically, ZHA shows a zonal- band spatial pattern associated with equatorial currents and contributes to forming the irregular eastern boundary of the WPWP （EBWP）. Seasonal variation of ZHA with a positive peak from February to July is most prominent in the Nifio3.4 region, where the EBWP is located. The physical mechanism of the seasonal cycle in this region is examined. The mean advection of anomalous temperature, anomalous advection of mean temperature and eddy advection account for 31%, 51%, and 18% of the total seasonal variations, respectively. This suggests that seasonal changes of the South Equatorial Current induced by variability of the trade winds are the dominant contributor to the anomalous advection of mean temperature and hence, the seasonality of ZHA. Heat budget analysis shows that ZHA and surface heat flux make comparable contributions to the seasonal heat variation in the Nifio3.4 region, and that ZHA cools the upper ocean throughout the calendar year except in late boreal spring. The connection between ZHA and EBWP is further explored and a statistical relationship between EBWP, ZHA and surface heat flux is established based on least squares fitting.展开更多
基金The CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams of Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41422601,41376024 and 41376025
文摘Zonal overturning circulation （ZOC） and its associated zonal heat flux （ZHF） are important components of the oceanic circulation and climate system, although these conceptions have not received adequate attentions. Heaving induced by inter-annual and decadal wind stress perturbations can give rise to anomalous ZOC and ZHF. Based on a simple reduced gravity model, the anomalous ZOC and ZHF induced by idealized heaving modes in the world oceans are studied. For example, in a Pacific-like model basin intensified equatorial easterly on decadal time scales can lead to a negative ZOC with a non-negligible magnitude （-0.3×10^6 m^3/s） and a considerable westward ZHF with an amplitude of -11.2 TW. Thus, anomalous ZOC and ZHF may consist of a major part of climate signals on decadal time scales and thus play an important role in the oceanic circulation and climate change.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2012CB417401)the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program(No.XDA10010104)
文摘Zonal heat advection （ZHA） plays an important role in the variability of the thermal structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean, especially in the western Pacific warm pool （WPWP）. Using the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation （SODA） Version 2.02/4 for the period 1958-2007, this paper presents a detailed analysis of the climatological and seasonal ZHA in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Climatologically, ZHA shows a zonal- band spatial pattern associated with equatorial currents and contributes to forming the irregular eastern boundary of the WPWP （EBWP）. Seasonal variation of ZHA with a positive peak from February to July is most prominent in the Nifio3.4 region, where the EBWP is located. The physical mechanism of the seasonal cycle in this region is examined. The mean advection of anomalous temperature, anomalous advection of mean temperature and eddy advection account for 31%, 51%, and 18% of the total seasonal variations, respectively. This suggests that seasonal changes of the South Equatorial Current induced by variability of the trade winds are the dominant contributor to the anomalous advection of mean temperature and hence, the seasonality of ZHA. Heat budget analysis shows that ZHA and surface heat flux make comparable contributions to the seasonal heat variation in the Nifio3.4 region, and that ZHA cools the upper ocean throughout the calendar year except in late boreal spring. The connection between ZHA and EBWP is further explored and a statistical relationship between EBWP, ZHA and surface heat flux is established based on least squares fitting.
