Shallow Mixed Layer Research Articles

Ross Sea Dissolved Organic Matter Optical Properties During an Austral Summer: Biophysical Influences

The Ross Sea, one of the most productive regions in the Southern Ocean, plays a significant role in deep water formation and carbon cycling. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption and fluorescence (FDOM) properties were studied in conjunction with biophysical properties during austral summer. Elevated values of both DOC (mean 47.82 ± 5.70 μM) and CDOM (absorption coefficient at 325 nm, acdom325: mean 0.31 ± 0.18 m–1) observed in the upper shelf waters in the southwest (SW), north of the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS), the northwest and along a transect inward of the shelf break, suggested in situ production and accumulation linked to the productive spring/summer season. However, regional differences were observed in CDOM with acdom325 higher (0.63 ± 0.19 m–1) and its spectral slope S275–295 lower (24.06 ± 2.93 μm–1) in the SW compared to other regions (0.25 ± 0.08 m–1 and 28.92 ± 2.67 μm–1, respectively). Similarly, the specific UV absorption coefficient or SUVA254 determined at 254 nm was greater (1.85 ± 0.55 m2 mg–1 C) compared to other regions (1.07 ± 0.24 m2 mg–1 C), indicating CDOM of greater molecular weight and aromaticity in the SW. Phytoplankton absorption spectra indicated the shallow mixed layer of SW Ross Sea to be dominated by diatoms (e.g., Fragilariopsis spp.), a preferential food source for grazers such as the Antarctic krill, which in large numbers have been shown to enhance CDOM absorption, a likely source in the SW. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) retrieved one protein-like and two humic-like FDOM fractions commonly observed in the global ocean. In contrast to acdom325 which was uncorrelated to DOC, we observed weak but significant positive correlations between the humic-like FDOM with salinity and DOC, high value of the biological index parameter BIX and an instance of increasing FDOM with depth at a location with sinking organic matter, suggesting autochthonous production of FDOM. The absorption budget showed a relatively higher contribution by CDOM (70.7 ± 18.3%) compared to phytoplankton (22.5 ± 15.2%) absorption coefficients at 443 nm with implications to ocean color remote sensing. This first study of DOM optical properties provides additional insights on carbon cycling in the Ross Sea.

Impacts of Precipitation–Evaporation–Salinity coupling on upper ocean stratification and momentum over the tropical pacific prior to onset of the 2018 El Niño

Precipitation affects upper ocean salinity and temperature over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Although the effects of freshwater on the diurnal mixing and formation of barrier layer have been shown in previous studies, the impacts of freshwater from the large-scale precipitation associated with the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) on the ocean from the western to central-eastern Pacific are not well understood. This study investigates the coupling of precipitation, evaporation, and salinity (P–E–S) and its impact on the upper ocean stratification and momentum on time scales from days to weeks (intraseasonal) and beyond. The Unified Wave INterface – Coupled Model (UWIN-CM) is used to simulate multiscale air–sea interactions during January–July 2018, including multiple MJO events leading up to the onset of the 2018–2019 El Niño. The atmospheric component of the UWIN-CM is constrained by reanalysis and reinitialized daily, while the ocean component evolves continuously and is fully coupled with the atmosphere. The initial and lateral boundary conditions for the atmosphere and ocean are from the ECMWF ERA5 and HYCOM global analysis, respectively. The UWIN-CM simulation captures the surface winds, rainfall, and the evolution of the upper ocean compared with in situ and satellite observations. To determine the effect of P–E–S coupling, the UWIN-CM simulation with full P–E–S coupling is compared with a model experiment in which the P–E input to the ocean is set to zero (NoPE). The difference between the two increases with time and becomes particularly large during the 3rd MJO event in April 2018. Two key results emerge. First, heavy precipitation and strong winds from the MJO events result in a locally fresher, warmer western Pacific warm pool with a shallower mixed layer and thicker barrier layer. Second, the fresh, warm water mass extends into the central-eastern Pacific from mid-April to late May with up to 0.5 m s−1 eastward currents. A well-defined salinity/density front, propagating eastward at about 0.3 m s−1, is located at the leading edge of the warm pool. The P–E–S coupling plays an important role in the eastward extension of the warm pool prior to the onset of El Niño in July 2018.

Upper-Ocean Temperature Variability in the Gulf of Mexico with Implications for Hurricane Intensity

AbstractStrong winds in tropical cyclones (TCs) mix the ocean, causing cooler water from below the thermocline to be drawn upward, reducing sea surface temperature (SST). This decreases the air–sea temperature difference, limits available heat energy, and impacts TC intensity. Part of TC forecast accuracy therefore depends upon the ability to predict sea surface cooling; however, it is not well understood how underlying ocean conditions contribute to this cooling. Here, ~4400 Argo profiles in the Gulf of Mexico were used in a principal component analysis to identify the modes of variability in upper-ocean temperature, and a 1D mixed layer model was used to determine how the modes respond to surface forcing. It was found that the first two modes explain 75% of the variance in the data, with high mode-1 scores being broadly characterized as having warm SST and deep mixed layer and mode-2 scores being characterized as having high SST and a shallow mixed layer. Both modes have distinct seasonal and spatial variability. When subjected to the same model forcing, mode-1- and mode-2-characteristic waters with equal tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP) respond very differently. Mode-2 SST cools faster than mode 1, with the difference being most pronounced at lower wind speeds and when comparing early-season storms with late-season storms. The results show that using TCHP as a marker for SST response during TC forcing is insufficient because it does not fully capture subsurface ocean thermal structure. This result underscores the need for continual subsurface monitoring so as to accurately initialize the upper ocean in coupled TC models.

Seasonality of Mesoscale Phytoplankton Control in Eastern Fram Strait

AbstractGlobally, mesoscale processes create a rich and filamented pattern in biological productivity. Despite of remoteness and a harsh environment, observations likewise show an impact of mesoscale processes on phytoplankton growth in the Arctic. Observations of sufficiently high resolution are, however, difficult to carry out. Large‐scale models are another way to gain knowledge about the system. In the current study, we use a global sea ice‐ocean biogeochemical model, which is eddy resolving in Fram Strait, to show that the mesoscale dynamics has a strong effect on shaping phytoplankton growth. For the year 2009, we demonstrate that the growth season in the West Spitzbergen Current can be divided into two regimes; during Regime I, which takes place in May and June before and during the spring bloom, high chlorophyll concentrations are associated with areas of positive vorticity and a shallow mixed layer, pointing toward light limitation controlling growth. During Regime II, which occurs after the bloom from mid‐July to late August, the highest chlorophyll concentration is found in areas of negative vorticity. Here, upwelling of nutrient‐rich water occurs, through doming isopycnals, acting to raise the nutricline, may also play a role in alleviating nutrient limitation in the surface water. The study suggests that the mesoscale eddy environment locally modulates the seasonal cycle of light and nutrient limitation. Knowledge of the eddy field should be taken into consideration for making conclusions from point‐wise measurements in Fram Strait.

Decline in plankton diversity and carbon flux with reduced sea ice extent along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Since the middle of the past century, the Western Antarctic Peninsula has warmed rapidly with a significant loss of sea ice but the impacts on plankton biodiversity and carbon cycling remain an open question. Here, using a 5-year dataset of eukaryotic plankton DNA metabarcoding, we assess changes in biodiversity and net community production in this region. Our results show that sea-ice extent is a dominant factor influencing eukaryotic plankton community composition, biodiversity, and net community production. Species richness and evenness decline with an increase in sea surface temperature (SST). In regions with low SST and shallow mixed layers, the community was dominated by a diverse assemblage of diatoms and dinoflagellates. Conversely, less diverse plankton assemblages were observed in waters with higher SST and/or deep mixed layers when sea ice extent was lower. A genetic programming machine-learning model explained up to 80% of the net community production variability at the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Among the biological explanatory variables, the sea-ice environment associated plankton assemblage is the best predictor of net community production. We conclude that eukaryotic plankton diversity and carbon cycling at the Western Antarctic Peninsula are strongly linked to sea-ice conditions.

Phytoplankton Increase Along the Kuroshio Due to the Large Meander

The Kuroshio Large Meander (LM) is known to be highly aperiodic and can last from 1 to 10 years. Since a stationary cold core formed between the Kuroshio and the southern coast of Japan off Enshu-Nada and approaching warm saltier water on the eastern side of the LM changes the local environment drastically, many commercially valuable fish species distribute differently from the non-LM period, impacting local fisheries. Despite this importance of the LM, the influences of the LM on the low trophic levels such as phytoplankton and zooplankton have still been unclear. In this study, satellite daily sea surface chlorophyll data are analyzed in relation to the LM. The results show positive anomalies of the chlorophyll-a concentration along the Kuroshio path during the LM periods, 2004–2005 and 2017–2019, from the upstream off Shikoku to the downstream (140°E). These positive anomalies are started by the triggering meander generated off south of Kyushu, which then slowly propagates to the downstream LM region in both the LM periods. Even though the detailed patterns along the Kuroshio region in the two LM periods were different, similar formations of the positive anomalies on the western side of the LM with shallower mixed layer depth are observed. Furthermore, we found clear relationships between the minimum distance from several stations along the coast to the Kuroshio axis and the mean chlorophyll-a anomaly, with significant correlations with the distance from different stations.

Environmental Regulation of the Nitrogen Supply, Mean Trophic Position, and Trophic Enrichment of Mesozooplankton in the Mekong River Plume and Southern South China Sea

AbstractThe mean trophic position (TP) of mesozooplankton largely determines how much mass and energy is available for higher trophic levels like fish. Unfortunately, the ratio of herbivores to carnivores in mesozooplankton is difficult to identify in field samples. Here, we investigated changes in the mean TP of mesozooplankton in a highly dynamic environment encompassing four distinct habitats in the southern South China Sea: the Mekong River plume, coastal upwelling region, shelf waters, and offshore oceanic waters. We used a set of variables derived from bulk and amino acid nitrogen stable isotopes from particulate organic matter and four mesozooplankton size fractions to identify changes in the nitrogen source and TP of mesozooplankton across these habitats. We found clear indications of a shift in N sources for biological production from nitrate in near‐coastal waters with shallow mixed layer depths toward an increase in diazotroph‐N inputs in oceanic waters with deep mixed layer depths where diazotrophs shaped the phytoplankton community. The N source shift was accompanied by a lengthening of the food chain (increase in the TP). This may provide further support for the connection between diazotrophy and the indirect routing of N through the marine food web. Our combined bulk and amino acid δ15N approach also allowed us to estimate the trophic enrichment (TE) of mesozooplankton across the entire regional ecosystem. When put in the context of literature values, a high TE of 5.1‰ suggested a link between ecosystem heterogeneity and the less efficient transfer of mass and energy across trophic levels.

Modeling of the Turkish Strait System Using a High Resolution Unstructured Grid Ocean Circulation Model

The Turkish Strait System, which is the only connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, is a challenging region for ocean circulation models due to topographic constraints and water mass structure. We present a newly developed high resolution unstructured finite element grid model to simulate the Turkish Strait System using realistic atmospheric forcing and lateral open boundary conditions. We find that the jet flowing from the Bosphorus Strait into the Marmara creates an anticyclonic circulation. The eddy kinetic energy field is high around the jets exiting from the Bosphorus Strait, Dardanelles Strait, and also the leeward side of the islands in the Marmara Sea. The model successfully captures the two-layer structure of the Sea of Marmara. The volume transport at the Bosphorus is around 120 km3/year which is consistent with the recent observations. The largest bias in the model is at the interface depth due to the shallower mixed layer.

An operational overview of the EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) Northeast Pacific field deployment

The goal of the EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) field campaign is to develop a predictive understanding of the export, fate, and carbon cycle impacts of global ocean net primary production. To accomplish this goal, observations of export flux pathways, plankton community composition, food web processes, and optical, physical, and biogeochemical (BGC) properties are needed over a range of ecosystem states. Here we introduce the first EXPORTS field deployment to Ocean Station Papa in the Northeast Pacific Ocean during summer of 2018, providing context for other papers in this special collection. The experiment was conducted with two ships: a Process Ship, focused on ecological rates, BGC fluxes, temporal changes in food web, and BGC and optical properties, that followed an instrumented Lagrangian float; and a Survey Ship that sampled BGC and optical properties in spatial patterns around the Process Ship. An array of autonomous underwater assets provided measurements over a range of spatial and temporal scales, and partnering programs and remote sensing observations provided additional observational context. The oceanographic setting was typical of late-summer conditions at Ocean Station Papa: a shallow mixed layer, strong vertical and weak horizontal gradients in hydrographic properties, sluggish sub-inertial currents, elevated macronutrient concentrations and low phytoplankton abundances. Although nutrient concentrations were consistent with previous observations, mixed layer chlorophyll was lower than typically observed, resulting in a deeper euphotic zone. Analyses of surface layer temperature and salinity found three distinct surface water types, allowing for diagnosis of whether observed changes were spatial or temporal. The 2018 EXPORTS field deployment is among the most comprehensive biological pump studies ever conducted. A second deployment to the North Atlantic Ocean occurred in spring 2021, which will be followed by focused work on data synthesis and modeling using the entire EXPORTS data set.

Interactions Between Ultraviolet B Radiation, Warming, and Changing Nitrogen Source May Reduce the Accumulation of Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries Biomass in Future Coastal Oceans

Understanding the environmental conditions that trigger Pseudo-nitzschia bloom formation and domoic acid (DA) production is critical as the frequency and severity of these toxic blooms increases in the face of anthropogenic change. However, predicting the formation of these harmful blooms in a future ocean remains a challenge. Previous studies have examined the effects of single environmental drivers on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. growth and toxin production, but few have considered the interactions between them. In this multiple driver study with Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries, we used a full factorial matrix experimental design to examine the simultaneous effects of temperature (20 and 25°C), nitrogen source (nitrate and urea), and irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation with and without ultraviolet B radiation; UVB). This strain of P. multiseries was unable to withstand prolonged exposures (>0.5 h) to 0.06 mw⋅cm–2 UVB light, with implications for near-surface bloom formation if future shallower mixed layers increase UVB exposure. Growth rates were inhibited by UVB, but photosynthesis and carbon fixation continued at a reduced capacity. Additionally, DA synthesis continued despite UVB-induced growth inhibition. Warming by 5°C enhanced cellular DA quotas three-fold. Within these warmer treatments, urea-grown cultures exposed to UVB had the highest amount of DA per cell, suggesting that interactive effects between UVB exposure, warming, and urea can synergistically enhance toxin production. However, overall production of toxic biomass was low, as growth-integrated DA production rates were near zero. This indicates that although Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries cell-specific toxicity could worsen in an anthropogenically-altered future ocean, bloom formation may be inhibited by increased exposure to UVB. This multi-variable experimental approach revealed previously unknown interactions that could not have been predicted based on combined effects of single-variable experiments. Although P. multiseries DA production may be enhanced in a future ocean, inherent sensitivity to prolonged UVB exposure may moderate trophic transfer of toxin to coastal food webs.

Particulate organic matter dynamics and its isotopic signatures (δ13CPOC and δ15NPN) in relation to physical forcing in the central Arabian Sea during SW monsoon (2017–2018)

Monsoonal changes in particulate organic matter (POM) and its isotopic signatures (δ13CPOC and δ15NPN) were studied (Aug 2017 and 2018) in the central Arabian Sea (21–11°N 64°E) . A low-level atmospheric jet (Findlater Jet) forms during the south-west (SW) monsoon and results in “open ocean upwelling” to the north of the jet's axis. Higher wind speed and jet-induced wind stress curl coupled with low sea surface temperature (SST) and higher nutrients were noticed in 2018 than in 2017. The region to the north of the jet was characterized by substantially shallower Mixed Layers Depths (MLDs) and higher POM contents relative to the jet's axis and southern stations. The molar ratio between particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PN) (6.2 ± 1.9in 2017; 6.4 ± 0.9 in 2018) was very close to the canonical Redfield ratio (6.63). The δ13CPOC values (−26.3 ± 1.4‰ in 2017; 25.5 ± 1.4‰ in 2018) exhibited typical marine signature reported from this area and revealed a noticeable inter-annual difference. Relatively higher δ15NPN values noticed in the north (7.68 ± 2.6‰ in 2017; 9.24 ± 3‰ in 2018) indicated regenerated dissolved inorganic nitrogen coming from the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) into the well-lit zone. The lower δ15NPN values along the jet axis and south of it were attributed to lateral advection of nitrogen from the Somali upwelling. Despite the higher nutrient availability, POC contents in 2018 did not exceed the values in 2017. Considering the total consumption of nitrogen (according to C:N: P = 106:16:1), the potential POC development in 2018 could be double the value in 2017. The interannual differences in SW monsoon onset and wind speed seem to directly control the nutrient supply, affecting plankton community structure and POM variability. Thus, any future change in the physical forcing may directly influence the POC pool and consequent export flux to the mesopelagic.

Key climate change stressors of marine ecosystems along the path of the East African coastal current

For the countries bordering the tropical Western Indian Ocean (TWIO), living marine resources are vital for food security. However, this region has largely escaped the attention of studies investigating potential impacts of future climate change on the marine environment. Understanding how marine ecosystems in coastal East Africa may respond to various climatic stressors is vital for the development of conservation and other ocean management policies that can help to adapt to climate change impacts on natural and associated human systems. Here, we use a high-resolution (1/4°) ocean model, run under a high emission scenario (RCP 8.5) until the end of the 21st century, to identify key regionally important climate change stressors over the East African Coastal Current (EACC) that flows along the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania. We also discuss these stressors in the context of projections from lower resolution CMIP5 models. Our results indicate that the main drivers of dynamics and the associated ecosystem response in the TWIO are different between the two monsoon seasons. Our high resolution model projects weakening of the Northeast monsoon (December–February) winds and slight strengthening of the Southeast monsoon (May–September) winds throughout the course of the 21st century, consistent with CMIP5 models. The projected shallower mixed layers and weaker upwelling during the Northeast Monsoon considerably reduce the availability of surface nutrients and primary production. Meanwhile, primary production during the Southeast monsoon is projected to be relatively stable until the end of the century. In parallel, a widespread warming of up to 5 °C is projected year-round with extreme events such as marine heatwaves becoming more intense and prolonged, with the first year-long event projected to occur as early as the 2030s. This extreme warming will have significant consequences for both marine ecosystems and the coastal populations dependent on these marine resources. These region-specific stressors highlight the importance of dynamic ocean features such as the upwelling systems associated with key ocean currents. This indicates the need to develop and implement a regional system that monitors the anomalous behaviour of such regionally important features. Additionally, this study draws attention to the importance of investment in decadal prediction methods, including high resolution modelling, that can provide information at time and space scales that are more directly relevant to regional management and policy making.

Meteorology-driven variability of air pollution (PM<sub>1</sub>) revealed with explainable machine learning

Abstract. Air pollution, in particular high concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 1 µm in diameter (PM1), continues to be a major health problem, and meteorology is known to substantially influence atmospheric PM concentrations. However, the scientific understanding of the ways in which complex interactions of meteorological factors lead to high-pollution episodes is inconclusive. In this study, a novel, data-driven approach based on empirical relationships is used to characterize and better understand the meteorology-driven component of PM1 variability. A tree-based machine learning model is set up to reproduce concentrations of speciated PM1 at a suburban site southwest of Paris, France, using meteorological variables as input features. The model is able to capture the majority of occurring variance of mean afternoon total PM1 concentrations (coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.58), with model performance depending on the individual PM1 species predicted. Based on the models, an isolation and quantification of individual, season-specific meteorological influences for process understanding at the measurement site is achieved using SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) regression values. Model results suggest that winter pollution episodes are often driven by a combination of shallow mixed layer heights (MLHs), low temperatures, low wind speeds, or inflow from northeastern wind directions. Contributions of MLHs to the winter pollution episodes are quantified to be on average ∼5 µg/m3 for MLHs below <500 m a.g.l. Temperatures below freezing initiate formation processes and increase local emissions related to residential heating, amounting to a contribution to predicted PM1 concentrations of as much as ∼9 µg/m3. Northeasterly winds are found to contribute ∼5 µg/m3 to predicted PM1 concentrations (combined effects of u- and v-wind components), by advecting particles from source regions, e.g. central Europe or the Paris region. Meteorological drivers of unusually high PM1 concentrations in summer are temperatures above ∼25 ∘C (contributions of up to ∼2.5 µg/m3), dry spells of several days (maximum contributions of ∼1.5 µg/m3), and wind speeds below ∼2 m/s (maximum contributions of ∼3 µg/m3), which cause a lack of dispersion. High-resolution case studies are conducted showing a large variability of processes that can lead to high-pollution episodes. The identification of these meteorological conditions that increase air pollution could help policy makers to adapt policy measures, issue warnings to the public, or assess the effectiveness of air pollution measures.

Contrasting phytoplankton and biogeochemical functioning in the eastern Arabian Sea shelf waters recorded by carbon isotopes (SW monsoon)

This study examines the relationship between the isotopic signature of phytoplankton-derived particulate organic matter (POM) (δ13CPOC) and estimates of growth rate and community composition along a north-south gradient in the western Indian shelf waters which possess contrasting biogeochemistry and mixed layers depths. The Eastern Arabian Sea/western Indian shelf turns highly productive due to the SW monsoon induced upwelling at its southern region and experiences drastic seasonal reversal. We have characterized the POM pool by quantifying Chla, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN), C:N ratios, along with δ13CPOC values during the SW Monsoon. The prevailing physicochemical features contrasted between the southern (8°N to 12°N) and northern (13°N to 21°N) stations. Close couplings between POC, PN, and Chla contents indicated the autochthonous nature of POM. Low temperature, shallow mixed layer depths (MLDs), high concentrations of nutrients, POM, and Chla, marked the upwelling signature in the south. Conversely, relatively higher temperatures, salinity, deeper mixed layers (MLs), lower concentrations of nutrients, POM, and Chla were evident at the northern stations. Five times higher POC concentrations were noticed in the south (65.5 ± 22.0 μmol L−1) than in the north (12.8± 5.4 μmol L−1) within the MLs. Phytoplankton community shift (based on marker pigment analysis) and the δ13CPOC values were closely coupled. The nutrient replete microphytoplankton (diatoms) dominated southern stations were associated with higher values of δ13CPOC (−23.0 ± 2.3‰) which was attributed to faster growth rate; conversely, the oligotrophic nitrogen-limited waters in the north dominated by pico and nanophytoplankton (haptophytes and cyanobacteria), were characterized by distinctly lower δ13CPOC values (−26.6 ± 0.9‰). Phytoplankton growth rates based on a model were consistent with this trend. Our results show that the autochthonous POC is the primary source of organic matter, and the contrasted biogeochemistry induced phytoplankton communities and their growth rates mostly governed the δ13CPOC variability in this region. However, the lower values in the subsurface waters at the south were likely to be influenced by light limitation and heterotrophy.

Upper Ocean Stratification in the Eastern Pacific During the SPURS‐2 Field Campaign

AbstractThe region between a shallow mixed layer and a deep isothermal layer resulting from salinity stratification is called a barrier layer (BL). Since BLs hinder the surface heat and momentum exchange with the ocean subsurface, they play an important role in air‐sea interaction. Synoptic features and formation of BLs and associated temperature inversions (TIs) in the Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool (EPFP) were investigated using shipboard observations. BLs and TIs were found in the high‐precipitation EPFP, a frontal transition zone (FTZ) and in the sea surface salinity (SSS) front during a 2016 boreal summer cruise. During a 2017 boreal autumn cruise, BLs and TIs were found from the southern part of the EPFP to the SSS front. The BLs in the SSS front and the FTZ were meridionally displaced from the precipitation maximum during both the 2016 and 2017 cruises. Freshening and cooling by tilting of both the isohalines and isotherms of the SSS front occurred via Ekman and geostrophic flow during both cruises, and also within the EPFP during 2016. The SSS front was a dominant contributor to the density gradient in the horizontal plane. A high dissolved oxygen content observed within BLs confirmed that the surface flow plays an important role in the BL and TI formation through the tilting process. Patchy distribution of freshening and cooling by tilting implies an intermittent BL and TI formation with short time scales.

Mechanism for the Formation of Arc-Shaped Cloud Lines over the Tropical Oceans

AbstractSatellite images frequently show mesoscale arc-shaped cloud lines with a spacing of several tens of kilometers. These clouds form in a shallow mixed boundary layer in locations where the near-surface horizontal wind speed exceeds ~7 m s−1. Unlike other mesoscale cloud line phenomena, such as horizontal convective rolls, these cloud lines do not align with the wind direction but form at large oblique angles to the near-surface wind. A particularly distinct event of this pattern developed on 31 January 2020 over the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. Radiosonde soundings are available for this time and location, allowing a detailed analysis. By comparing observations with theoretical predictions that are based on Jeffreys’s drag-instability mechanism, it is shown that drag-instability waves may contribute to the formation of this cloud pattern. The theory is formulated in only two dimensions and predicts that wavelike horizontal wind perturbations of this wavelength can grow, because they modulate the surface friction in a way that reinforces the perturbations. The theoretical horizontal wavelengths of 40–80 km agree with the observations. Streamlines from the ERA5 reanalysis show that the directional change of the near-surface wind is likely to contribute to the arc shape but that a radial propagation of an initial instability is also required to explain the strong curvature. Moreover, ERA5 winds suggest that other known explanations for the formation of cloud lines are unlikely to apply in the case studied here.

Increasing tropical cyclone intensity and potential intensity in the subtropical Atlantic around Bermuda from an ocean heat content perspective 1955–2019

We investigate tropical cyclone (TC) activity and intensity within a 100 km radius of Bermuda between 1955 and 2019. The results show a more easterly genesis over time and significant increasing trends in TC intensity (maximum wind speed (Vmax)) with a decadal Vmax median value increase of 30 kts from 33 to 63 kts (r = 0.94, p = 0.02), together with significant increasing August, September, October sea surface temperature (SST) of 1.1 °C (0.17 °C per decade) r = 0.4 (p < 0.01) and increasing average ocean temperature between 0.5 °C and 0.7 °C (0.08 °C–0.1 °C per decade) r = 0.3(p < 0.01) in the depth range 0–300 m. The strongest correlation is found between TC intensity and ocean temperature averaged through the top 50 m ocean layer () r = 0.37 (p < 0.01). We show how TC potential intensity (PI) estimates are closer to actual intensity by using as opposed to SST using the Hydrostation S time-series. We modify the widely used SST PI index by using to provide a closer estimate of the observed minimum sea level pressure (MSLP), and associated Vmax than by using SST, creating a PI (_PI) index. The average MSLP difference is reduced by 12 mb and proportional (r = 0.74, p < 0.01) to the SST/ temperature difference. We also suggest the index could be used over a wider area of the subtropical/tropical Atlantic where there is a shallow mixed layer depth.

Nocturnal Boundary Layer Erosion Analysis in the Amazon Using Large-Eddy Simulation during GoAmazon Project 2014/5

This study investigated the erosion of the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) over the central Amazon using a high-resolution model of large-eddy simulation (LES) named PArallel Les Model (PALM) and observational data from Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon) project 2014/5. This data set was collected during four intense observation periods (IOPs) in the dry and rainy seasons in the years 2014 (considered a typical year) and 2015, during which an El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event predominated and provoked an intense dry season. The outputs from the PALM simulations represented reasonably well the NBL erosion, and the results showed that it has different characteristics between the seasons. During the rainy season, the IOPs exhibited slow surface heating and less intense convection, which resulted in a longer erosion period, typically about 3 h after sunrise (that occurs at 06:00 local time). In contrast, dry IOPs showed more intensive surface warming with stronger convection, resulting in faster NBL erosion, about 2 h after sunrise. A conceptual model was derived to investigate the complete erosion during sunrise hours when there is a very shallow mixed layer formed close to the surface and a stable layer above. The kinematic heat flux for heating this layer during the erosion period showed that for the rainy season, the energy emitted from the surface and the entrainment was not enough to fully heat the NBL layer and erode it. Approximately 30% of additional energy was used in the system, which could come from the release of energy from biomass. The dry period of 2014 showed stronger heating, but it was also not enough, requiring approximately 6% of additional energy. However, for the 2015 dry period, which was under the influence of the ENSO event, it was shown that the released surface fluxes were sufficient to fully heat the layer. The erosion time of the NBL probably influenced the development of the convective boundary layer (CBL), wherein greater vertical development was observed in the dry season IOPs (~1500 m), while the rainy season IOPs had a shallower layer (~1200 m).

Not Just Sea Ice: Other Factors Important to Near‐inertial Wave Generation in the Arctic Ocean

AbstractInternal wave energy in the Arctic Ocean is often an order of magnitude lower than the midlatitudes. By inhibiting energy input and causing damping, the presence of sea ice is believed to be responsible for low internal wave energy. While a few current studies have shown slightly elevated internal wave energy compared to historical measurements, it has not matched the catastrophic decline in sea ice extent over the same period. We report internal wave energy and mixing estimates that show little difference in the presence of sea ice. To examine possible causes other than sea ice, we adopt the model framework developed in Gill (1984) to explore the importance of previously unexamined factors responsible for the low internal wave energy in the Arctic Ocean. Model results show that low β and shallow mixed layers can result in significant reductions in horizontal kinetic energy in the pycnocline compared to midlatitudes.

The Annual Cycle of Upper-Ocean Potential Vorticity and Its Relationship to Submesoscale Instabilities

AbstractThe evolution of upper-ocean potential vorticity (PV) over a full year in a typical midocean area of the northeast Atlantic is examined using submesoscale- and mesoscale-resolving hydrographic and velocity measurements from a mooring array. A PV budget framework is applied to quantitatively document the competing physical processes responsible for deepening and shoaling the mixed layer. The observations reveal a distinct seasonal cycle in upper-ocean PV, characterized by frequent occurrences of negative PV within deep (up to about 350 m) mixed layers from winter to mid-spring, and positive PV beneath shallow (mostly less than 50 m) mixed layers during the remainder of the year. The cumulative positive and negative subinertial changes in the mixed layer depth, which are largely unaccounted for by advective contributions, exceed the deepest mixed layer by one order of magnitude, suggesting that mixed layer depth is shaped by the competing effects of destratifying and restratifying processes. Deep mixed layers are attributed to persistent atmospheric cooling from winter to mid-spring, which triggers gravitational instability leading to mixed layer deepening. However, on shorter time scales of days, conditions favorable to symmetric instability often occur as winds intermittently align with transient frontal flows. The ensuing submesoscale frontal instabilities are found to fundamentally alter upper-ocean turbulent convection, and limit the deepening of the mixed layer in the winter-to-mid-spring period. These results emphasize the key role of submesoscale frontal instabilities in determining the seasonal evolution of the mixed layer in the open ocean.