The Long-term variability of Global Typical Oceanic Fronts

Abstract

Using high-resolution NOAA Optimum Interpolation sea surface temperature (OISST) data, the temporal and spatial characteristics of typical oceanic fronts in the past 39 years, including Oyashio front, Gulf Stream front, Peru current front and southern Indian Ocean polar front, are analyzed. The results show that the intensities of the four typical fronts have all strengthened, among which the Peru current is the most significant and the South Indian Ocean polar front is the weakest. The movement of the fronts are quite different: the Oyashio front has a significant poleward movement, and the Gulf Stream front extending into the open sea part has a marginal poleward movement; while the south Indian Ocean polar front and Peru current front have no obvious movements.