Temperature-salinity Profiles Research Articles

Seasonal inflow of warm water onto the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf, Antarctica

To capture the austral summer to winter transition in water mass properties over the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf and slope region, 19 Weddell seals were tagged with miniaturized conductivity–temperature–depth sensors in February 2011. During the following 8 months the instruments yielded about 9000 temperature–salinity profiles from a previously undersampled area. This allows, for the first time, a description of the seasonality of warm water intrusions onto the shelf, as well as its southward extent towards the Filchner Ice Shelf. A temperature section across the Filchner Depression and eastern shelf shows a pronounced decrease in warm water inflow from summer to winter, further supported by an almost 3–year long time series from a shelf–break mooring. The seasonal variability is related to the surface wind stress and an associated deepening of the off‐shelf core of Warm Deep Water.

El Niño and El Niño Modoki variability based on a new ocean reanalysis

A new ocean reanalysis, covering the period from 1990 to 2009, is evaluated against observational sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) data in reproducing the temporal characteristics of El Nio and El Nio Modoki. The new reanalysis assimilates the available SST, temperature-salinity profile, and satellite altimetry data sets into a global ocean model forced with surface boundary conditions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction atmospheric reanalysis 2. Using the Nio 3 index and the improved El Nio Modoki index, to distinguish between El Nio and El Nio Modoki signals, our results show that the two time series in the new reanalysis are in agreement with those obtained from observations during the study period. A composite analysis method is used to demonstrate the temporal evolution of these two types of El Nio. The new reanalysis has the advantage of representing the strength and location of El Nio events better than the control run, with an increase in the spatial correlation, but El Nio variability in the reanalysis is weak in the eastern Pacific, particularly off the coast of South America. As for the El Nio Modoki events, the initiation, development, and termination of the warm SST anomalies all occur in the central Pacific. All main features associated with the warm SST anomaly pattern of El Nio Modoki are well represented in the reanalysis. Furthermore, using this new ocean reanalysis, we select two strong cases to investigate possible mechanisms that may lead to the different warm SST anomaly patterns.

Argo data assimilation in ocean general circulation model of Northwest Pacific Ocean

The Argo temperature and salinity profiles in 2005–2009 are assimilated into a coastal ocean general circulation model of the Northwest Pacific Ocean using the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF). Three numerical tests, including the control run (CTL) (without data assimilation, which serves as the reference experiment), ensemble free run (EnFR) (without data assimilation), and EAKF experiment (with Argo data assimilation using EAKF), are carried out to examine the performance of this system. Using the restarts of different years as the initial conditions of the ensemble integrations, the ensemble spreads from EnFR and EAKF are all kept at a finite value after a sharp decreasing in the first few months because of the sensitive of the model to the initial conditions, and the reducing of the ensemble spread due to Argo data assimilation is not much. The ensemble samples obtained in this way can well represent the probabilities of the real ocean states, and no ensemble inflation is necessary for this EAKF experiment. Different experiment results are compared with satellite sea surface temperature (SST) data and the Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program (GTSPP) data. The comparison of SST shows that modeled SST errors are reduced after data assimilation; the error reduction percentage after assimilating the Argo profiles is about 10 % on average. The comparison against the GTSPP profiles, which are independent of the Argo profiles, shows improvements in both temperature and salinity. The comparison results indicated a great error reduction in all vertical layers relative to CTL and the ensemble mean of EnFR; the maximum value for temperature and salinity reaches to 85 % and 80 %, respectively. The standard deviations of sea surface height are employed to examine the simulation ability, and it is shown that the mesoscale variability is improved after Argo data assimilation, especially in the Kuroshio extension area and along the section of 10°N. All these results suggest that this system is potentially useful for improving the simulation ability of oceanic numerical models.

Observations of mesoscale variability in the Rockall Trough

The Rockall Trough west of Ireland displays a high level of mesoscale activity for an eastern ocean boundary region. Eddies off the continental slope at 50–56°N have been studied using a combination of in situ observations of current velocity and hydrography from two deep-sea moorings at the southern entrance to the Trough, and data from satellite altimetry and Argo floats. South of Rockall–Hatton Plateau, where a branch of the NAC enters the region from the west, more cyclonic eddies are found, while anticyclonic eddies dominate along the path of the Slope Current in the east. Temperature–salinity profiles from the perimeters of a cyclone and an anticyclone, respectively, show large differences on isopycnals both at the level of the subsurface salinity maximum and at intermediate depths. Anticyclonic eddies likely formed by instabilities of the Slope Current can include a parcel of salty Mediterranean Water (MW) at the intermediate level, contributing to the patchy distribution of MW in the region.

Using ensemble adjustment Kalman filter to assimilate Argo profiles in a global OGCM

An ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF) is used to assimilate Argo profiles of 2008 in a global version of the Modular Ocean Model version 4. Four assimilation experiments are carried out to compare with the simulation without data assimilation, which serves as the control experiment. All experiment results are compared with dataset of Global Temperature–Salinity Profile Program and satellite sea surface temperature (SST). The first experiment (Exp 1) is implemented by perturbing temperature of upper layers in the initial conditions (ICs) with an amplitude of 1.0°C and no ensemble inflation. The results from Exp 1 show that the simulated temperature (salinity) deviation in the upper 400 m (500 m) is reduced through Argo data assimilation; however, these deviations are increased in deeper layers. The error reduction in SST is much greater during January to June than during the rest of the year. Three more experiments are designed to understand the responses in different layers and months. Two of them test model sensitivities to ICs by perturbing them vertically: one over the vertical extent of the whole water column (Exp 2) and the other employs smaller perturbation amplitude of 0.1°C (Exp 3). Exp 2 shows that the simulated temperature and salinity deviations are systematically improved in the whole water column. Comparison between Exps 2 and 3 suggests that perturbation amplitude is important. Exp 4 tests the influence of the optimal inflation factor of 5%, which is determined by other set of numerical tests. Exp 4 improves assimilation performance much more than the other three experiments without inflation. Therefore, we conclude that the perturbation should be introduced to all model layers, proper perturbation amplitude is important for Ocean data assimilation using EAKF, and the ensemble inflation by an optimal inflation is critical to improve the skill of the EAKF analysis.

Evaluation and Sensitivity Analysis of an Ocean Model Response to Hurricane Ivan

Abstract An ocean model response to Hurricane Ivan (2004) over the northwest Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico is evaluated to guide strategies for improving performance during strong forcing events in a region with energetic ocean features with the ultimate goal of improving coupled tropical cyclone forecasts. Based on prior experience, a control experiment is performed using quasi-optimal choices of initial ocean fields, atmospheric forcing fields, air–sea flux parameterizations, vertical mixing parameterizations, and both horizontal and vertical resolutions. Alternate experiments are conducted by altering one single model attribute and comparing the results to SST analyses and moored ADCP current measurements to quantify the sensitivity to that attribute and identify where to concentrate model improvement efforts. Atmospheric forcing that does not resolve the eye and eyewall of the storm (scales >10 km) substantially degrades the ocean response. Ordering other model attributes from greatest to least sensitivity, ocean model initialization with regard to the accuracy of upper-ocean temperature–salinity profiles along with accurate location of ocean currents and eddies is the most important factor for ensuring good ocean model performance. Ocean dynamics ranks second in this energetic ocean region because a one-dimensional ocean model fails to capture important physical processes that affect SST cooling. Wind stress drag coefficient parameterizations that yield values exceeding 2.5 × 10−3 at high wind speeds or that remain <2.0 × 10−3 over all wind speeds reduce the realism of wind-driven current profiles and have a large impact on both SST cooling and the heat flux from ocean to atmosphere. Turbulent heat flux drag coefficient parameterizations substantially impact the surface heat flux while having little impact on SST cooling, which is primarily controlled by entrainment at the mixed layer base. Vertical mixing parameterizations have a moderate impact on SST cooling but a comparatively larger impact on surface heat flux. The impacts of altering the horizontal and vertical resolutions are small, with horizontal resolution of ≈10 km and vertical resolution of ≈10 m in the mixed layer being adequate. Optimal choices of all attributes for simulating the ocean response to Ivan are identified.

A construction of pseudo salinity profiles for the global ocean: Method and evaluation

[1] This study demonstrates a reconstruction of salinity profiles for the global ocean for the period 1993–2008. All available temperature-salinity (T-S) profiles from the Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program and Argo data are divided into two subsets; one half is used for producing the vertical coupled T-S empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes, and the other half is used for the verification. We employed a weighted least-squares method that minimizes the misfits between the predetermined EOF structures and independent observed temperature and altimetry data. Verification shows that the South Indian and North Atlantic oceans maintain good correlations to 900 m depth between the observed and reconstructed salinity with altimetry data. Meanwhile, the Pacific and Antarctic oceans below 500 m shows significant negative correlations which are associated with the relationship between steric height and salinity variability in these basins. In order to guarantee general agreement with observations for all ocean depths, we calculate a regional correlation index considering the impact of altimetry data and employ it for our final products. Except for the surface ocean, the pseudo salinity profiles show general improvements compared to the existing climatology and the reanalysis outputs from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's ensemble coupled data assimilation system. Near the surface layer, reanalysis outputs show a relatively high performance due to the coupling between the atmosphere and ocean. An assimilation system produces reliable surface flux variability not accounted for the construction of the global pseudo salinity profiles. These results encourage the application of the global pseudo salinity profiles into an assimilation system for the 20th century when the observed salinity data are sparse.

Barrier layer in the South China Sea during summer 2000

Using temperature–salinity profiles obtained from a cruise in summer 2000, the structure and formation of the barrier layer (BL) in the South China Sea (SCS) are investigated. Fresh water flux, ocean circulation, and wind stirring are important for BL formation, depending on regions. In the eastern SCS, Philippine mountains induce heavy rainfall, resulting in a fresh water cap at the surface and the formation of a thick wide spread BL. In the northwestern basin on the lee of the Annam Cordillera range, by contrast, a rain shadow reduces fresh water flux, which along with wind-induced upwelling, prevents the BL forming. Southeast of Vietnam, a thick BL forms as the Mekong River plume is advected by the northeastward western boundary current and its offshore extension. In the southeastern basin, the surface water is mixed deeply under the strong southwesterly monsoon, unfavorable for the BL formation despite heavy rainfall. In the Luzon Strait, the east/southeastward surface Ekman drift carries fresh SCS surface water, riding on the intruding Kuroshio meander that carries well-mixed, warm and saline water. The vertical overlapping of these two water masses gives rise to a thick BL.

Parasites as biological tags for stock discrimination in marine fish from South American Atlantic waters

The use of parasites as biological tags in population studies of marine fish in the south-western Atlantic has proved to be a successful tool for discriminating stocks for all species to which it has been applied, namely: Scomber japonicus, Engraulis anchoita, Merluccius hubbsi and Cynoscion guatucupa, the latter studied on a broader geographic scale, including samples from Uruguayan and Brazilian waters. The distribution patterns of marine parasites are determined mainly by temperature-salinity profiles and by their association with specific masses of water. Analyses of distribution patterns of some parasite species in relation to gradients in environmental (oceanographic) conditions showed that latitudinal gradients in parasite distribution are common in the study area, and are probably directly related to water temperature. Indeed, temperature, which is a good predictor of latitudinal gradients of richness and diversity of species, shows a latitudinal pattern in south-western Atlantic coasts, decreasing southwards, due to the influence of subtropical and subantarctic marine currents flowing along the edge of the continental slope. This pattern also determines the distribution of zooplankton, with a characteristic specific composition in different water masses. The gradient in the distribution of parasites determines differential compositions of their communities at different latitudes, which makes possible the identification of different stocks of their fish hosts. Other features of the host-parasite systems contributing to the success of the parasitological method are: (1) parasites identified as good biological tags (i.e. anisakids) are widely distributed in the local fauna; (2) many of these species show low specificity and use paratenic hosts; and (3) the structure of parasite communities are, to a certain degree, predictable in time and space.

Quality control of ocean temperature and salinity profiles — Historical and real-time data

A new automated quality control system for oceanic temperature and temperature–salinity profiles is presented. Substantial development was needed for some of the quality control algorithms although the checks were based on documented procedures used elsewhere where appropriate. A new automated ship track check was developed: the results of an undetected position error can be very damaging to ocean analyses. Also important is a check against a gridded background, this can be a climatology but near the surface it is advantageous to use an estimate that is evolving over time. Bayesian probability theory is used in the background check and the associated check against nearby observations (buddy check). The system was used to process archive data for 1956–2004. As a by-product monthly model-free objective analyses for this period were produced. Versions of the system are used for near-real time ocean analysis and for initialising both short-range ocean forecasts and seasonal atmosphere–ocean forecasts. The main features of the oceanic observing systems are presented along with quality control statistics, examples of errors that can occur and some additional problematic cases.

The Role of Cabbeling and Double Diffusion in Setting the Density of the North Pacific Intermediate Water Salinity Minimum

The top of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in the subtropical North Pacific is identified with the main salinity minimum in the density range σθ = 26.7–26.8. The most likely source of low salinity for the NPIW salinity minimum is the Oyashio winter mixed layer, of density σθ = 26.5–26.65. The Oyashio waters mix with Kuroshio waters in the broad region known as the Mixed Water Region (MWR), between the separated Kuroshio and Oyashio Fronts just east of Japan. It is shown that cabbeling during mixing of the cold, fresh Oyashio winter mixed layer water with the warm, saline Kuroshio water increases the density of the mixture by up to σθ = 0.07 at densities around σθ = 26.6–26.65, regardless of the mixing mechanism. Thus cabbeling accounts for about half of the observed density difference between the Oyashio winter mixed layer water and the top of the NPIW. Double diffusion during mixing of the interleaving layers of Oyashio and Kuroshio waters in the MWR can also change the density of the mixing intrusions. Density ratios favorable to double diffusion are shown to be especially prominent in Oyashio intrusions into a Kuroshio warm core ring in the 1989 data examined here. The average potential temperature–salinity profile of the new subtropical NPIW just east of the MWR, with its nearly uniform salinity, suggests the dominance of salt fingering over diffusive layering. Using the observed salinity and density differences between Oyashio surface water and the NPIW salinity minimum, after subtracting the density difference ascribed to cabbeling, an effective flux ratio of about 0.8 is estimated for possible double diffusive processes in the MWR.

Observing Deep Convection in the Labrador Sea during Winter 1994/95

A 12-month mooring record (May 1994–June 1995), together with accompanying PALACE float data, is used to describe an annual cycle of deep convection and restratification in the Labrador Sea. The mooring is located at 56.75°N, 52.5°W, near the former site of Ocean Weather Station Bravo, in water of ∼3500 m depth. This is a pilot experiment for climate monitoring, and also for studies of deep-convection dynamics. Mooring measurements include temperature (T), salinity (S), horizontal and vertical velocity, and acoustic measurement of surface winds. The floats made weekly temperature–salinity profiles between their drift level (near 1500 m) and the surface. With moderately strong cooling to the atmosphere (∼300 W m−2 averaged from November to March), wintertime convection penetrated from the surface to about 1750 m, overcoming the stabilizing effect of upper-ocean low-salinity water. The water column restratifies rapidly after brief vertical homogenization (in potential density, salinity, and potential temperature). Both the rapid restratification and the energetic high-frequency variations of T and S observed at the mooring are suggestive of a convection depth that varies greatly with location. Lateral variations in T and S exist down to very small scales, and these remnants of convection decay (with e-folding time ∼170 day) after convection ceases. Lateral variability at the scale of 100 km is verified by PALACE profiles. The Eulerian mooring effectively samples the convection in a mesoscale region of ocean as eddies sweep past it; the Lagrangian PALACE floats are complementary in sampling the geography of deep convection more widely. This laterally variable convection leaves the water column with significant vertical gradients most of the year. Convection followed by lateral mixing gives vertical salinity profiles the (misleading) appearance that a one-dimensional diffusive process is fluxing freshwater downward. During spring, summer, and fall the salinity, temperature, and buoyancy rise steadily with time throughout most of the water column. This is likely the result of mixing with the encircling boundary currents, compensating for the escape of Labrador Sea Water from the region. Low-salinity water mixes into the gyre only near the surface. The water-column heat balance is in satisfactory agreement with meteorological assimilation models. Directly observed subsurface calorimetry may be the more reliable indication of the annual-mean air–sea heat flux. Acoustic instrumentation on the mooring gave a surprisingly good time series of the vector surface wind. The three-dimensional velocity field consists of convective plumes of width ∼200 to 1000 m, vertical velocities of 2 to 8 cm s−1, and Rossby numbers of order unity, embedded in stronger (∼20 cm s−1) lateral currents associated with mesoscale eddies. Horizontal currents with timescales of several days to several months are strongly barotropic. They are suddenly energized as convection reaches great depth in early March, and develop toward a barotropic state, as also seen in models of convectively driven geostrophic turbulence in a weakly stratified, high-latitude ocean. Currents decay through the summer and autumn, apart from some persistent isolated eddies. These coherent, isolated, cold anticyclones carry cores of pure convected water long after the end of winter. Boundary currents nearby interact with the Labrador Sea gyre and provide an additional source of eddies in the interior Labrador Sea. An earlier study of the pulsation of the boundary currents is supported by observations of sudden ejection of floats from the central gyre into the boundary currents (and sudden ingestion of boundary current floats into the gyre interior), in what may be a mechanism for exchange between Labrador Sea Water and the World Ocean.

The relative contributions of advection and isopycnal and diapycnal mixing below the subtropical salinity maximum

The spatial distribution of the subtropical salinity maximum is identified using historical and recent data from the eastern North Atlantic. In the regions with high frequency of occurrence of the salinity maximum, the relative contributions of advection, eddy diffusion and double diffusion to the salt balance below the maximum salinity layer are determined. McDougall's (1984, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 14, 1577–1589) salt balance equation for neutral surfaces is used in this analysis. The data base consists of two meridional CTD sections along 33° and 27°W between 10° and 35°N, mean temperature-salinity profiles in 5° × 5° squares presented by Emery and Dewar (1982), and mean velocity profiles in 3° × 3° squares evaluated by Stramma (1984, Journal of Marine Research, 42, 537–558). The tropical salinity maximum tongue is found to be quite persistent in its salinity value and its geographic distribution, but less clearly in its vertical or isopycnal position. Double diffusion due to salt-fingering appears to be an important process for the salt balance below the salinity maximum layer. An approximate estimate of the double-diffusive salt flux is obtained. Near the subtropical source region, the double-diffusive salt flux is balanced primarily by isopycnal advection; further to the south it is also balanced by isopycnal eddy diffusion. Maximum double-diffusive fluxes correspond in magnitude to the mean salt flux caused by the excess in evaporation at the surface in the central subtropics. The resulting isopycnal and diapycnal eddy-mixing coefficients derived by a linear inversion technique have the reasonable values of K i = (11 ± 5) × 10 2 m 2 s −1 and K d = (4 ± 2) × 10 −5 m 2 s −1. Considering the intermittency of the double-diffusive process, limiting values for the mean eddy-mixing coefficients are determined by neglecting the contribution of the double-diffusive salt fluxes. This leads to K i = (5 ± 2) × 10 2 m 2 s −1 and K d = (5 ± 1) × 10 −5 m 2 s −1 for the isopycnal and diapycnal mixing coefficients, respectively.