Mesoscale wind stress–SST coupling in the Kuroshio extension and its effect on the ocean

Abstract

Mesoscale perturbations (with a size of 100–1000 km) of wind stress magnitude, divergence and curl in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) are observed to tightly link to those of sea surface temperature (SST), and downwind and crosswind SST gradients, respectively. Based on long-term satellite observational data, their empirical relationships are established, which are further used to represent mesoscale wind stress–SST coupling in an ocean model that is based on the Regional Oceanic Modelling Systems (ROMS). The strength of mesoscale perturbations of wind stress and SST is observed to display a consistent seasonal variability, with the maximum appeared in winter while the minimum appeared in summer. This seasonal variability characteristic is also successfully simulated by ROMS with high resolution. Through comparing two experiments with and without the mesoscale wind stress–SST coupling, it is found that the mesoscale wind stress perturbation (τ MS) has a negative feedback on SST perturbation (SSTMS). Analyses of sensitivity experiments suggest that the τ MS acts to inhibit SSTMS mainly by means of surface heat flux. The τ MS –SSTMS coupling also exerts influences on the ocean mean state and seasonal variability of SST in the KE. The effect of τ MS on the SST is distinct in autumn and winter when the mesoscale perturbations are most active. Analyses of sensitivity experiments demonstrate that the τ MS can affect the long term mean SST through either way of surface heat flux or momentum flux.