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An empirical parameterization for the salinity of subsurface water entrained into the ocean mixed layer ( S e ) in the tropical Pacific
Author(s) -
Zhang RongHua,
Busalacchi Antonio J.,
Murtugudde Raghuram G.,
Arkin Phillip A.,
BallabreraPoy Joaquim
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1029/2005gl024218
Subject(s) - empirical orthogonal functions , sss* , geology , climatology , salinity , sea surface temperature , anomaly (physics) , entrainment (biomusicology) , mixed layer , geophysical fluid dynamics , precipitation , pacific ocean , environmental science , meteorology , oceanography , mathematics , physics , mathematical optimization , condensed matter physics , rhythm , acoustics
An empirical parameterization for Se is proposed and tested in an intermediate ocean model (IOM) of the Tropical Pacific Ocean. An inverse modeling approach is first adopted to estimate S e from a sea surface salinity (SSS) anomaly (SSSA) model using observed in‐situ SSS measurements, simulated upper ocean currents, and freshwater flux (evaporation minus precipitation, E‐P) data. A relationship between S e and sea level (SL) anomalies is then obtained by utilizing an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) technique. This empirical scheme is able to estimate S e anomalies reasonably well in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and can be used to parameterize S e fields in terms of SL anomalies for use in SSSA calculations. An optimized S e parameterization naturally leads to a balanced depiction of the subsurface effect on SSS variability in association with entrainment and vertical mixing. As a result, SSSA simulations can be potentially improved in the Tropical Pacific.