Identification

Title

Mechanisms controlling mixed-layer temperature variability in the eastern tropical Pacific on the intraseasonal timescale

Abstract

The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a prominent mode of intraseasonal (~35-95 day) variability in the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Its impacts on ocean mixed-layer temperatures (MLT) in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETPO) are not well-understood. A previous study of mooring data at (110°W, EQ) implies vertical advection forced by MJO-generated Kelvin waves is important to ETPO intraseasonal MLT; another, based on model output over (120-100°W, 3°S-3°N), indicates meridional advection dominates. We analyze an ocean state estimate at (110°W, EQ) and find combined subsurface processes, including a notable vertical advection component like that expected from MJO-forced Kelvin waves, dominate. However, when averaged over (120-100°W, 3°S-3°N), subsurface processes and horizontal advection are both important, and effects of thermocline forcing (e.g., Kelvin waves) are small compared to those by local wind driven mixing and horizontal advection. The results highlight the importance of understanding regional physics on different spatial scales.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7sj1mcj

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011-09-02T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact