Role of horizontal density advection in seasonal deepening of the mixed layer in the subtropical Southeast Pacific |
| |
| Authors: | Qinyu Liu Yiqun Lu |
| |
| Institution: | 1.Physical Oceanography Laboratory/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology,Key Laboratory of Ocean–Atmosphere Interaction and Climate in Universities of Shandong, Ocean University of China,Qingdao,China |
| |
| Abstract: | The mechanisms behind the seasonal deepening of the mixed layer (ML) in the subtropical Southeast Pacific were investigated using the monthly Argo data from 2004 to 2012. The region with a deep ML (more than 175 m) was found in the region of (22°-30°S, 105°-90°W), reaching its maximum depth (～200 m) near (27°-28°S, 100°W) in September. The relative importance of horizontal density advection in determining the maximum ML location is discussed qualitatively. Downward Ekman pumping is key to determining the eastern boundary of the deep ML region. In addition, zonal density advection by the subtropical countercurrent (STCC) in the subtropical Southwest Pacific determines its western boundary, by carrying lighter water to strengthen the stratification and form a "shallow tongue" of ML depth to block the westward extension of the deep ML in the STCC region. The temperature advection by the STCC is the main source for large heat loss from the subtropical Southwest Pacific. Finally, the combined effect of net surface heat flux and meridional density advection by the subtropical gyre determines the northern and southern boundaries of the deep ML region: the ocean heat loss at the surface gradually increases from 22°S to 35°S, while the meridional density advection by the subtropical gyre strengthens the stratification south of the maximum ML depth and weakens the stratification to the north. The freshwater flux contribution to deepening the ML during austral winter is limited. The results are useful for understanding the role of ocean dynamics in the ML formation in the subtropical Southeast Pacific. |
| |
| Keywords: | mixed layer seasonal deepening Southeast Pacific heat flux density advection |
| 本文献已被 CNKI 万方数据 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
| 点击此处可从《大气科学进展》浏览原始摘要信息 |
| 点击此处可从《大气科学进展》下载免费的PDF全文 |
|
