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Significance of the vertical profile of the Indonesian Throughflow transport to the Indian Ocean
Author(s) -
Song Qian,
Gordon Arnold L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl020360
Subject(s) - throughflow , thermocline , indian ocean dipole , thermohaline circulation , oceanography , geology , sea surface height , climatology , ocean surface topography , ocean heat content , indian ocean , ocean current , ocean general circulation model , sea surface temperature , stratification (seeds) , climate change , general circulation model , seed dormancy , botany , germination , dormancy , soil science , biology
Using an ocean general circulation model, we find that the vertical profile of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) transport is important in regulating the stratification and surface heat fluxes of the Indian Ocean. With the same total ITF transport, a thermocline‐intensified ITF, relative to a surface‐intensified ITF, not only cools the surface layer of the Indian Ocean while warming the Indian Ocean below the thermocline, but also induces negative temperature anomalies at the sea surface throughout the Indian basin. As a consequence of this surface effect the net heat gain of the Indian Ocean is increased. The results suggest that it is necessary to properly represent the vertical profile of ITF transport within ocean and climate numerical models.