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Bottom pressure variability in the Kuroshio Extension driven by the atmosphere and ocean instabilities
Author(s) -
Na Hanna,
Watts D. Randolph,
Park JaeHun,
Jeon Chanhyung,
Lee Ho Jin,
aka Masami,
Greene Andrew D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1002/2016jc012097
Subject(s) - barotropic fluid , ocean gyre , climatology , forcing (mathematics) , mode (computer interface) , geology , wind stress , ocean general circulation model , atmosphere (unit) , ocean dynamics , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , sea surface height , ocean current , sea surface temperature , oceanography , general circulation model , meteorology , geography , climate change , subtropics , fishery , computer science , biology , operating system
The relative importance of atmospheric forcing on oceanic intraseasonal (7–60 days) barotropic variability is investigated in the Kuroshio Extension region by comparing in situ measurements with two models: a wind‐forced barotropic model and an ocean general circulation model. Large‐scale wind stress curl forcing (an atmospheric mode) becomes successively more influential with decreasing periods (at 7–15 day band, compared to 15–30 day and 30–60 day bands). On the other hand, oceanic instabilities (an oceanic mode) become more important with increasing period (at 30–60 day band, compared to 15–30 day and 7–15 day bands). Comparison between the barotropic model and the ocean general circulation model results reveals differences on the broader gyre scale: the atmospheric mode exhibits basin‐mode‐like spatial patterns with faster phase propagation from east to west, whereas the oceanic mode shows eddy‐like spatial patterns with slower westward propagation. The atmospheric mode, which has received less attention on the intraseasonal time scale, contributes an important fraction to the barotropic variability in the Kuroshio Extension region.