Thermodynamic Air/Ocean Feedback Mechanisms in the Equatorial Pacific
Abstract
The occurrence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been studied from numerous air-ocean interaction aspects, yielding theories implying a positive-only correlation between the time rate of change of sea surface temperature anomaly (DT's/Dt) and the corresponding change in the depth of the ocean mixed layer (h'). However, an alternate proposal by Chu (1991a,b, 1992) holds that there are both positive and negative correlations between aTs/t and h'. Chu's proposal, based upon the modified Kraus-Turner ocean mixed layer (OML) thermodynamic model, goes further to say that the regions occupied by these positive and negative correlation values correspond roughly to those occupied by positive and negative values of a surface forcing function, P, that is an indication of the strength of the counteracting surface forcings of wind work and buoyant damping. The model-generated fields of surface wind stress, net heat flux, sea surface temperature, and primary (mixed) layer depth are analyzed for a two year ENSO event, 1986 - 87, covering the region of the equatorial Pacific, 1ON to 1OS and to 140E to 8OW, in order to determine the validity of these theories.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA257476
Entities
People
- Robert S. Steadley
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School