Extended Abstract (228K)6.9
The mechanism for the maintenance of decadal SST anomalies in the midlatitude north Pacific
Takashi Mochizuki, Kyoto Univ., Kyoto, Japan; and H. Kida
The decadal SST variations over the midlatitude north Pacific are investigated using the surface data. The seasonal variations and the mechanism for the maintenance of decadal SST anomalies are discussed individually in the northern(39N-49N, 165E-155W) and southern(25N-35N, 175E-145W) region where the strong decadal SST variations appear. In both regions, the magnitude of the decadal SST anomaly becomes the largest from January to March, while the magnitude of the decadal SST tendency anomaly becomes notable from October to January. The heat budget analysis for the ocean mixed layer is carried out and the dominant terms in the temperature equation are clarified. In the northern region, the anomalies of meridional Ekman advection and total heat flux(the sum of sensible and latent heat fluxes) at the surface are leading terms and balance with the anomaly of SST tendency from October to December. In the southern region, the decadal SST tendency anomaly balance only with the anomaly of meridional Ekman advection effect from November to January. The above results suggest that the mechanism for the maintenance of decadal SST anomalies would be different between the northern region and the southern region.
-- This abstract is submitted for the special session "on midlatitude air-sea interaction and its linkage to the tropics".
Session 6, Extratropical Air-Sea Interaction
Tuesday, 15 May 2001, 8:30 AM-1:15 PM
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