Ocean-atmosphere Exchange Research Articles

Investigating the effects of a summer storm on the North Sea stratification using a regional coupled ocean-atmosphere model

The influence of a summer storm event in 2007 on the North Sea and its effects on the ocean stratification are investigated using a regional coupled ocean (Regional Ocean Modeling System, ROMS)-atmosphere (Weather Research & Forecasting model, WRF) modeling system. An analysis of potential energy anomaly (PEA, Φ) and its temporal development reveals that the loss of stratification due to the storm event is dominated by vertical mixing in almost the entire North Sea. For specific regions, however, a considerable contribution of depth-mean straining is observed. Vertical mixing is highly correlated with wind induced surface stresses. However, peak mixing values are observed in combination with incoming flood currents. Depending on the phase between winds and tides, the loss of stratification differs strongly over the North Sea. To study the effects of interactive ocean-atmosphere exchange, a fully coupled simulation is compared with two uncoupled ones for the same vertical mixing parameters to identify the impact of spatial resolution as well as of SST feedback. While the resulting new mixed layer depth after the storm event in the uncoupled simulation with lower spatial and temporal resolution of the surface forcing data can still be located in the euphotic zone, the coupled simulation is capable to mix the entire water column and the vertical mixing in the uncoupled simulation with higher resolution of the surface forcing data is strongly amplified. These differences might have notable implications for ecosystem modeling since it could determine the development of new phytoplankton blooms after the storm and for sediment modeling in terms of sediment mobilization. An investigation of restratification after the extreme event illustrates the persistent effect of this summer storm.

Brightness temperature of microwave self-radiation employed as direct characteristic of the dynamic interaction between the ocean and atmosphere

It is proposed and substantiated that, in the ocean‒atmosphere system, the microwave self-radiation intensity (brightness temperature), which is measured by means of satellites in the millimeter and centimeter wave bands, can be used as the direct characteristic of the thermal and dynamic parameters of the system. The vertical turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat and momentum are determined at the ocean‒atmosphere interface according to the data measured by the special sensor microwave imagers located on weather satellites created in the scope of the defense meteorological satellite program and the advanced microwave scanning radiometer installed aboard the EOS Aqua oceanographic satellite. For the first time, the integrated (annual) characteristics of heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere are investigated in the energy-active zones of the North Atlantic with the help of long-term satellite microwave radiometric measurements.

Seasonal and short-term variations in atmospheric potential oxygen at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

Oxygen in the atmosphere undergoes variations and changes in response to biospheric activities, ocean–atmosphere exchange and fossil fuel combustion. Continuous in situ measurements of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction were started at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (78.93°N, 11.83°E, 40 m a.s.l.) in November 2012. Atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) calculated from the measured O2 and CO2 values during November 2012–January 2015 show a clear seasonal cycle with a peak-to-peak amplitude of approximately 50 per meg. The seasonal cycle of APO simulated using an atmospheric transport model, with prescribed oceanic O2, N2 and CO2 fluxes at monthly time intervals, is in excellent agreement with the observed APO. However, in spring and early summer, high values of APO are observed irregularly on a timescale of hours to days. By comparing backward trajectories of air parcels released from the site with distributions of marine net primary production (NPP), and tagged tracer experiments made using the atmospheric transport model for APO, it is found that these high APO fluctuations are primarily attributable to O2 emissions from the Greenland Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, due to marine biological productivity. Marine net community production, estimated based on the sea-to-air O2 flux derived from observed APO fluctuations, agrees with NPP obtained from satellite observations within an order of magnitude. The results obtained in this study have still some uncertainties, but our continuous observations of atmospheric δ(O2/N2) and CO2 mole fraction at Ny-Ålesund can play an important role in detecting possible changes in the carbon cycle in the near future.

Assimilation for skin SST in the NASA GEOS atmospheric data assimilation system.

The present article describes the sea surface temperature (SST) developments implemented in the Goddard Earth Observing System, Version 5 (GEOS-5) Atmospheric Data Assimilation System (ADAS). These are enhancements that contribute to the development of an atmosphere-ocean coupled data assimilation system using GEOS. In the current quasi-operational GEOS-ADAS, the SST is a boundary condition prescribed based on the OSTIA product, therefore SST and skin SST (Ts) are identical. This work modifies the GEOS-ADAS Ts by modeling and assimilating near sea surface sensitive satellite infrared (IR) observations. The atmosphere-ocean interface layer of the GEOS atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) is updated to include near surface diurnal warming and cool-skin effects. The GEOS analysis system is also updated to directly assimilate SST-relevant Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) radiance observations. Data assimilation experiments designed to evaluate the Ts modification in GEOS-ADAS show improvements in the assimilation of radiance observations that extends beyond the thermal IR bands of AVHRR. In particular, many channels of hyperspectral sensors, such as those of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) are also better assimilated. We also obtained improved fit to withheld, in-situ buoy measurement of near-surface SST. Evaluation of forecast skill scores show marginal to neutral benefit from the modified Ts.

Characterizing infrasonic ocean ambient noise in Northwest Pacific

The ability of the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound network to detect atmospheric explosions and events of interest strongly depends on station specific ambient noise which includes both incoherent wind noise and real coherent infrasonic waves. To characterize the coherent ambient noise, a broadband array processing was performed with IMS continuous waveform archive from 2007 to 2016 using the Progressive Multi-Channel Correlation algorithm (PMCC). The processing parameters include a new implementation of adaptive frequency dependent window length and a logarithmic band spacing. Such configuration allows to better discriminate between interfering signals with improved accuracy in the wave parameters estimations. Multi-year comparisons between the observed and modeled directional microbarom amplitude variations at several IMS stations using two-dimensional wave energy spectrum ocean wave products are performed to build of a reference database of infrasound oceanic sources in Northwest Pacific. The expected benefits of such studies concern the use of multi-year complementary data to finely characterize coupling mechanisms at the ocean-atmosphere interface. In return, a better knowledge of the source of the ambient ocean noise opens new perspectives by providing additional integrated constraints on the dynamics of the middle atmosphere and its disturbances where data coverage is sparse.

Protein and Carbohydrate Exopolymer Particles in the Sea Surface Microlayer (SML)

Exchanges of matter and energy between ocean and atmosphere occur through the sea surface microlayer (SML). The SML is the thin surface layer of the ocean at the ocean-atmosphere interface that has distinctive physical, chemical and biological properties compared with the underlying water. We measured the concentration of two types of exopolymer particles in the SML and underlying water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon (United States) during July 2011. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are defined by their acidic polysaccharide content, whereas Coomassie staining particles (CSP) are composed of protein. TEP and CSP were ubiquitous in the SML. TEP were not significantly enriched in the SML compared with the underlying water. CSP were significantly enriched in the SML, with an enrichment factor (EF) of 1.4 to 2.4. The distribution of exopolymer particles in the water and microscopic imaging indicated that TEP and CSP are distinct populations of particles rather than different chemical components of the same particles. Dissolved polysaccharides were not enriched in the SML, whereas monosaccharides had an EF of 1.2 to 1.8. Sampling occurred during the collapse of a diatom bloom, and diatoms were found both in the water column and SML. While there were living diatoms in the samples, most of the diatoms were dead and there were abundant empty frustules covered in layer of TEP. The collapsing diatom bloom was probably the source of exopolymer particles to both the SML and underlying water. Exopolymer particles are a component of the SML that may play a significant role in the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the exchange of material between ocean and atmosphere.

OBSERVAÇÕES SOBRE A MODULAÇÃO DA CAMADA LIMITE ATMOSFÉRICA MARINHA DEVIDA À PASSAGEM DE UM SISTEMA FRONTAL NO ATLÂNTICO SUDOESTE

Between 6-9 December 2012, the Oceanographic Vessel Alpha Crucis took oceanographic stations in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean in support to both SAMOC and ACEx projects. During the research cruise, the vessel performed measurements with the release of weather balloons. From the data collected by the radiosondes, it was possible to verify the variability of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) in the area and period of study. From meteorological and oceanographic data, it was possible to estimate the latent and sensible heat fluxes from bulk parameterization. During an episode of formation of an extratropical cyclone, the results ,of this work demonstrate the impact of the synoptic conditions influencing the evolution of the MABL. During the prefrontal condition a stratification of the MABL was verified. The latent and sensible heat fluxes directed from the ocean to the atmosphere were low or negative (from the atmosphere to the ocean). During the post frontal condition, the MABL was well developed with a 1200 m height and the latent and sensible heat fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere were more intense. These observations are fundamental to widen our understanding on the physical processes occurring at the ocean-atmosphere interface and have primary importance for the weather and climate forecast of the south-southwestern region of Brazil.

High atmosphere–ocean exchange of semivolatile aromatic hydrocarbons

The global transport and fate of semivolatile aromatic hydrocarbons and their relevance for the carbon cycle are poorly quantified. Global measurements in paired atmospheric and ocean samples suggest that their contribution is substantial.

Evaluation of significance of spray evaporation in the atmospheric surface layer for computing the trajectory and intensity of tropical cyclones

The results are presented ofcomputation oftrajectory and intensity oftwo typhoons in 2012 for two groups of parameterization schemes of ocean-atmosphere energy exchange in tropical cyclones (TCs), boundary and surface layers of TCs, radiation fluxes, microphysics, and convection. The surface layer computations were carried out with and without the relationships that take into account the surface layer cool ing due to spray evaporation. It is demonstrated that the accounting of this effect exerts positive influence on the results of TC trajectory modeling at different stages. Ifthere are specific features in TC movement, for example, the loop formation, this improvement may be crucial. The accuracy ofthe results of computation of TC intensity increases as well.

Retrieval of the Ocean Skin Temperature Profiles From Measurements of Infrared Hyperspectral Radiometers—Part II: Field Data Analysis

To obtain the vertical temperature profile of the thermal skin layer on the aqueous side of the ocean–atmosphere interface from radiance measurements of hyperspectral infrared radiometers, regularization methods are used to address the nonlinearity and ill-conditioning of the inverse problem associated with the retrieval. This paper demonstrates the truncated singular value decomposition regularization technique on field data sets obtained from the Marine-Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (M-AERI). The M-AERI takes highly accurate and spectrally resolved radiance measurements in the infrared, which allows for the sensing of temperature values within thermal skin layer depths of less than 1 mm below the ocean surface. Results showed temperature inversions found in the solution, but these are deemed unphysical, based on previous tests on synthetic data and by a scaling analysis using the Rayleigh number, which are presented here. The importance of sea surface emissivity for performing the atmospheric correction to M-AERI measurements to derive surface emissivity spectra is also discussed. The retrieved profiles exhibit a smooth exponential-like structure that agrees well with theory.

Reduced deep ocean ventilation in the Southern Pacific Ocean during the last glaciation persisted into the deglaciation

Marine radiocarbon (14C) is widely used to trace ocean circulation and the 14C levels of interior ocean water masses can provide insight into atmosphere–ocean exchange of CO2 the since the last glaciation. Using tephras as stratigraphic tie points with which to estimate past atmospheric Δ14C, we reconstructed a series of deep radiocarbon ages for several time slices from the last glaciation through the deglaciation and Holocene in the Southwestern Pacific. Glacial ventilation ages were much greater in magnitude than modern and had a strong mid-depth Δ14C minimum centered on ∼2500 m. Glacial radiocarbon ages of intermediate depth waters (600–1200 m) were ∼800 to 1600 14C years, about twice modern and persisted through the early deglaciation. Notably, in the glaciation shallower depths were significantly more enriched in 14C than waters between 1600 and 3800 m, which were ∼4000 to 6200 14C years, or about 3–5 times older than modern. Abyssal waters deeper than 4000 m were also more 14C rich than the overlying deep water. With radiocarbon ages of 1800–2300 14C years, this was similar to modern values. In the early deglaciation, Δ14C depleted waters were flushed from shallower depths first and replaced with progressively younger waters such that by ∼18 ka, the deep to intermediate age difference was reduced by half, and by ∼14 ka a modern-type Δ14C profile for deep ocean water masses was in place. Our results 1) confirm a deep 14C depleted water mass during the LGM and early deglaciation, and 2) constrain the extent of this “old” water in the Southern Pacific as between 1600 m and 3800 m. The availability of atmospheric ages from tephras reveals that the presence of older surface reservoir ages in the glaciation caused the estimation of ventilation ages from simple benthic–planktonic offsets to significantly underestimate the depletion of Δ14C in deep waters. This may have had a role in masking the large change in reservoir ages since the glaciation when using benthic–planktonic reservoir age estimates.

Quantification of the Diminishing Earth’s Magnetic Dipole Intensity and Geomagnetic Activity as the Causal Source for Global Warming within the Oceans and Atmosphere

Quantitative analyses of actual measurements rather than modeling have shown that “global warming” has been heterogeneous over the surface of the planet and temporally non-linear. Residual regression analyses by Soares (2010) indicated increments of increased temperature precede increments of CO2 increase. The remarkably strong negative correlation (r = -0.99) between the earth’s magnetic dipole moment values and global CO2-temperature indicators over the last ~30 years is sufficient to be considered causal if contributing energies were within the same order of magnitude. Quantitative convergence between the energies lost by the diminishing averaged geomagnetic field strength and energies gained within the ocean-atmosphere interface satisfy the measured values for increased global temperature and CO2 release from sea water. The pivotal variable is the optimal temporal unit employed to estimate the total energies available for physical-chemical reactions. The positive drift in averaged amplitude of geomagnetic activity over the last 100 years augmented this process. Contributions from annual CO2 from volcanism and shifts in averaged geomagnetic activity, lagged years before the measured global temperature-CO2 values, are moderating variables for smaller amplitude perturbations. These results indicated that the increase in CO2 and global temperatures are primarily caused by major geophysical factors, particularly the diminishing total geomagnetic field strength and increased geomagnetic activity, but not by human activities. Strategies for adapting to climate change because of these powerful variables may differ from those that assume exclusive anthropomorphic causes.

A dawn peak in the occurrence of ‘knifing behaviour’ in blue sharks

Knifing is a behaviour whereby a shark swims directly at the surface with its dorsal fin out of the water. While this behaviour has been reported in a number of species, information on the frequency and timing of such behaviour could provide insights on how sharks use the ocean–atmosphere interface. Our analysis of the timing of the reception of satellite (Argos) messages from SPOT-tagged blue sharks has revealed important insights on knifing behaviour in one of the ocean’s most abundant large predators. We found that knifing behaviour was common in all tagged sharks and occurred during 54–76 % of days tracked, with a mean (and SD) of 4.7 ± 0.4 knifing events per day when observed. The frequency of knifing behaviour increased during the dawn period in all sharks and was supported by analysis of high-resolution depth data from a recovered archival tag. One shark also had a pronounced peak in knifing activity at dusk. We suggest that blue sharks may be using surface waters during twilight periods to maximise foraging opportunities. Light conditions at dawn are consistent with surface-dwelling prey being both more dispersed and silhouetted by ambient light conditions, making individual prey more visible. The application of this analysis to other species of sharks may provide further insights on knifing behaviour.

Sea surface temperature and torrential rains in the Valencia region: modelling the role of recharge areas

Abstract. Heavy rain events are frequently recorded in the Western Mediterranean causing economic losses and even human casualties. The Western Mediterranean is a deep and almost closed sea surrounded by high mountain ranges and with little exchange of water with the Atlantic ocean. A main factor in the development of torrential rains is ocean-atmosphere exchanges of heat and moisture that can potentially destabilize air masses travelling over the sea. The study of air mass trajectories previous to the rain event permits the identification of sea areas that could probably contribute to the development or intensification of rainfall. From a previous Mediterranean sea surface temperature climatology, its spatio-temporal distribution patterns have been studied showing two main distribution modes in winter and summer and transitional regimes in spring and autumn. Hence, three heavy precipitation events, for such winter and summer sea temperature regimes and for fall transition, affecting the Valencia region have been selected to study the effect of sea surface temperature in torrential rains. Simulations with perturbed sea surface temperature in different areas along the air mass path were run to compare results with unperturbed simulation. The variation of sea surface temperature in certain areas caused significant changes in model accumulated values and its spatial distribution. Therefore, the existence of areas that at a greater extent favour air-sea interaction leading to the development of torrential rainfall in the Valencia region has been shown. This methodology could be extended to the whole Mediterranean basin to look for such potential recharge areas. The identification of sea areas that contribute to the development or intensification of heavy rain events in the Mediterranean countries could be a useful prognosis and/or monitoring tool.

Ocean Turbulent Dynamics at Superresolution From Optimal Multiresolution Analysis and Multiplicative Cascade

The synoptic determination of ocean circulation using the data acquired from space, with a coherent depiction of its turbulent characteristics, remains a fundamental challenge in oceanography. This determination has the potential of revealing all aspects of the ocean dynamic variability on a wide range of spatiotemporal scales and will enhance our understanding of ocean–atmosphere exchanges at superresolution, as required in the present context of climate change. Here, we show a four-year time series of spatial superresolution (4 km) turbulent ocean dynamics generated from satellite data using emerging ideas in signal processing coming from nonlinear physics, low-resolution dynamics, and superresolution oceanic sea surface temperature data acquired from optical sensors. The method at its core consists in propagating across the scales the low-resolution dynamics in a multiresolution analysis computed on adimensional critical transition information.

Boron isotope evidence for oceanic carbon dioxide leakage during the last deglaciation.

Atmospheric CO2 fluctuations over glacial-interglacial cycles remain a major challenge to our understanding of the carbon cycle and the climate system. Leading hypotheses put forward to explain glacial-interglacial atmospheric CO2 variations invoke changes in deep-ocean carbon storage, probably modulated by processes in the Southern Ocean, where much of the deep ocean is ventilated. A central aspect of such models is that, during deglaciations, an isolated glacial deep-ocean carbon reservoir is reconnected with the atmosphere, driving the atmospheric CO2 rise observed in ice-core records. However, direct documentation of changes in surface ocean carbon content and the associated transfer of carbon to the atmosphere during deglaciations has been hindered by the lack of proxy reconstructions that unambiguously reflect the oceanic carbonate system. Radiocarbon activity tracks changes in ocean ventilation, but not in ocean carbon content, whereas proxies that record increased deglacial upwelling do not constrain the proportion of upwelled carbon that is degassed relative to that which is taken up by the biological pump. Here we apply the boron isotope pH proxy in planktic foraminifera to two sediment cores from the sub-Antarctic Atlantic and the eastern equatorial Pacific as a more direct tracer of oceanic CO2 outgassing. We show that surface waters at both locations, which partly derive from deep water upwelled in the Southern Ocean, became a significant source of carbon to the atmosphere during the last deglaciation, when the concentration of atmospheric CO2 was increasing. This oceanic CO2 outgassing supports the view that the ventilation of a deep-ocean carbon reservoir in the Southern Ocean had a key role in the deglacial CO2 rise, although our results allow for the possibility that processes operating in other regions may also have been important for the glacial-interglacial ocean-atmosphere exchange of carbon.

Enhanced 20th-century heat transfer to the Arctic simulated in the context of climate variations over the last millennium

Abstract. Oceanic heat transport variations, carried by the northward-flowing Atlantic Water, strongly influence Arctic sea-ice distribution, ocean–atmosphere exchanges, and pan-Arctic temperatures. Palaeoceanographic reconstructions from marine sediments near Fram Strait have documented a dramatic increase in Atlantic Water temperatures over the 20th century, unprecedented in the last millennium. Here we present results from Earth system model simulations that reproduce and explain the reconstructed exceptional Atlantic Water warming in Fram Strait in the 20th century in the context of natural variability during the last millennium. The associated increase in ocean heat transfer to the Arctic can be traced back to changes in the ocean circulation in the subpolar North Atlantic. An interplay between a weakening overturning circulation and a strengthening subpolar gyre as a consequence of 20th-century global warming is identified as the driving mechanism for the pronounced warming along the Atlantic Water path toward the Arctic. Simulations covering the late Holocene provide a reference frame that allows us to conclude that the changes during the last century are unprecedented in the last 1150 years and that they cannot be explained by internal variability or natural forcing alone.

Estimation of CO2 flux from targeted satellite observations: a Bayesian approach

We consider the estimation of carbon dioxide flux at the ocean–atmosphere interface, given weighted averages of the mixing ratio in a vertical atmospheric column. In particular we examine the dependence of the posterior covariance on the weighting function used in taking observations, motivated by the fact that this function is instrument-dependent, hence one needs the ability to compare different weights. The estimation problem is considered using a variational data assimilation method, which is shown to admit an equivalent infinite-dimensional Bayesian formulation.The main tool in our investigation is an explicit formula for the posterior covariance in terms of the prior covariance and observation operator. Using this formula, we compare weighting functions concentrated near the surface of the earth with those concentrated near the top of the atmosphere, in terms of the resulting covariance operators.We also consider the problem of observational targeting, and ask if it is possible to reduce the covariance in a prescribed direction through an appropriate choice of weighting function. We find that this is not the case—there exist directions in which one can never gain information, regardless of the choice of weight.

Ocean–atmosphere exchange of organic carbon and CO<sub>2</sub> surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract. Exchangeable organic carbon (OC) dynamics and CO2 fluxes in the Antarctic Peninsula during austral summer were highly variable, but the region appeared to be a net sink for OC and nearly in balance for CO2. Surface exchangeable dissolved organic carbon (EDOC) measurements had a 43 ± 3 (standard error, hereafter SE) μmol C L−1 overall mean and represented around 66% of surface non-purgeable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Antarctic waters, while the mean concentration of the gaseous fraction of organic carbon (GOC H–1) was 46 ± 3 SE μmol C L−1. There was a tendency towards low fugacity of dissolved CO2 (fCO2-w) in waters with high chlorophyll a (Chl a) content and high fCO2-w in areas with high krill densities. However, such relationships were not found for EDOC. The depth profiles of EDOC were also quite variable and occasionally followed Chl a profiles. The diel cycles of EDOC showed two distinct peaks, in the middle of the day and the middle of the short austral dark period, concurrent with solar radiation maxima and krill night migration patterns. However, no evident diel pattern for GOC H–1 or CO2 was observed. The pool of exchangeable OC is an important and active compartment of the carbon budget surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula and adds to previous studies highlighting its importance in the redistribution of carbon in marine environments.

Comment on “Wave‐turbulence interaction and its induced mixing in the upper ocean” by Huang and Qiao

Comment on “Wave‐turbulence interaction and its induced mixing in the upper ocean” by Huang and Qiao