Variability of Latent and Sensible Heat Fluxes Over the Oceans PDF Download

Author: Daniel R Cayan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Heat flux
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Author: Dennis L. Hartmann
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080571638
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Global Physical Climatology is an introductory text devoted to the fundamental physical principles and problems of climate sensitivity and change. Addressing some of the most critical issues in climatology, this text features incisive coverage of topics that are central to understanding orbital parameter theory for past climate changes, and for anthropogenic and natural causes of near-future changes--Key Features* Covers the physics of climate change* Examines the nature of the current climate and its previous changes* Explores the sensitivity of climate and the mechanisms by which humans are likely to produce near-future climate changes* Provides instructive end-of-chapter exercises and appendices

Author: Jason Brent Roberts
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Meteorology
Languages : en
Pages :

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ABSTRACT: A major theme of recent research is the investigation of the nature of climate variability and the current capability to measure, model, and predict it. This is a formidable task that involves understanding complex interactions and exchanges of energy between the major elements of the Earth system. With their ability to store and release vast quantities of heat, the oceans are an integral element of climate variability. Accurately modeling coupled atmosphere-ocean variability relies upon a proper characterization of the exchanges of heat and momentum across the air-sea interface. The exchange of heat takes place through net shortwave and terrestrial radiative fluxes and turbulent exchanges of heat and moisture. Estimating these interactions with sufficient accuracy is a difficult challenge. These processes contain inherent errors due to insufficient knowledge of physics, observational uncertainty, and parameterization deficiencies. Uncertainties arising from the estimation of the surface turbulent and radiative processes generate limitations to the understanding of the primary mechanisms governing oceanic variability. This work elucidates the impact of uncertainties in the estimation of turbulent and radiative heat fluxes on the analysis of the mixed layer temperature balance, an effect that has not been properly quantified although recognized in most previous analyses. In particular, this work focuses on variability at seasonal and intraseasonal time scales. The analyses of this work include- i) an updated characterization of uncertainties in current state-of-the-art estimates of the turbulent and radiative heat fluxes, ii) an examination of the closure of the mixed layer temperature balance on seasonal and intraseasonal time scales, iii) an evaluation of the sensitivity of the mixed layer temperature balance to differences between surface heat flux estimates, iv) the development of a flexible approach by which to determine required accuracies of the net surface heat flux, and v) an exploration of the role of mixed layer depth variability on the mixed layer temperature balance. Taken together, the results of these analyses provide a framework to understand the impact of surface heat flux uncertainties within the context of upper ocean mixed layer variability. The analyses performed in this study have exploited a set of eight turbulent and six radiative heat flux estimates. An intercomparison of these products has revealed that the typical spread between products has been reduced relative to previous generations of estimates. Differences between radiative and turbulent heat flux estimates are typically within 15-20% of one another on regional and seasonal scales although larger uncertainties remain in traditionally problematic regions (e.g., cloud-topped boundary layers, western boundary currents). On both intraseasonal and seasonal time scales, the ocean mixed layer is controlled most strongly by the net shortwave and turbulent latent heat fluxes over the world oceans with the exception of the deep tropics wherein oceanic processes are also important. The current ensemble mean estimates of the net surface heat fluxes and oceanic process are capable of resolving the upper ocean mixed layer temperature seasonal cycle quite well in many locations; areas of strong net heat flux warming are somewhat problematic. On intraseasonal time scales, small signal to noise ratios and large residual imbalances leave little room to make definitive conclusions on the role of individual elements of mixed layer forcing. However, general features of the relative importance of surface heat flux variability versus oceanic variability are supported from previous studies. The mixed layer temperature balance is found to be most sensitive to uncertainties in the latent and net shortwave heat fluxes. The timing of the shoaling of the mixed layer depth is also important to the sensitivity of the mixed layer temperature balance. Taking into account mixed layer depth variability is found to be important to understanding the role of the net surface heat fluxes in generating mixed layer temperature warming and cooling. Current estimates of the net heat flux uncertainty are outside of the traditional 10 W m &minus 2 goal on seasonal time scales and spatial scales on the order of 1000 km. The approach designed within this investigation suggests that a 10 W m &minus 2 limit is somewhat too restricting if the aim is to resolve the seasonal mixed layer temperature evolution. In short, the use of the ocean mixed layer temperature balance has provided a unique framework for translating uncertainties in the surface heat flux estimates into a practical context. It is hoped that a better appreciation of these uncertainties will lead to an improved ability to model and understand the mechanisms by which the oceans contribute to variability of Earth's climate.

Author: Burton G. Hurdle
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461580358
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 788

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" ... as soon as one has traversed the greater part of the wild sea, one comes upon such a huge quantity of ice that nowhere in the whole world has the like been known." "This ice is of a wonderful nature. It lies at times quite still, as one would expect, with openings or large fjords in it; but sometimes its movement is so strong and rapid as to equal that of a ship running before the wind, and it drifts against the wind as often as with it." Kongespeilet - 1250 A.D. ("The Mirror of Kings") Modern societies require increasing amounts influence on the water mass and on the resulting of scientific information about the environment total environment of the region; therefore, cer tain of its characteristics will necessarily be in whieh they live and work. For the seas this information must describe the air above the sea, included.

Author: Shiro Imawaki
Publisher: Elsevier Inc. Chapters
ISBN: 0128058625
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Strong, persistent currents along the western boundaries of the world’s major ocean basins are called “western boundary currents” (WBCs). This chapter describes the structure and dynamics of WBCs, their roles in basin-scale circulation, regional variability, and their influence on atmosphere and climate. WBCs are largely a manifestation of wind-driven circulation; they compensate the meridional Sverdrup transport induced by the winds over the ocean interior. Some WBCs also play a role in the global thermohaline circulation, through inter-gyre and inter-basin water exchanges. After separation from the boundary, most WBCs have zonal extensions, which exhibit high eddy kinetic energy due to flow instabilities, and large surface fluxes of heat and carbon dioxide. The WBCs described here in detail are the Gulf Stream, Brazil and Malvinas Currents in the Atlantic, the Somali and Agulhas Currents in the Indian, and the Kuroshio and East Australian Current in the Pacific Ocean.

Author: Gregory Frank Dreyer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ocean-atmosphere interaction
Languages : en
Pages : 694

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Author: C. Gautier
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400964218
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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An Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) sponsored by NATO and the California Space Institute was held in Corsica (France) October 3 to 7, 1983 to discuss the role of satellite observations in the large-scal·eoceanographic experiments, especially those under discussion (e.g., the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, WOCE, and the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere, TOGA). This volume is based on papers presented during that meeting, summaries of the discussions of the working groups and recommended necessary tasks to be accompl ished in preparation for WOCE and TOGA. The participants of the meeting decided that, although the collection of issues discussed in the meeting was undoubtedly incomplete, the summaries of the discussions and recommended tasks warranted being conveyed to the organizers and sponsors of WOCE and TOGA. Although not discussed at the workshop, it was recognized that an important role of satellites is as data collection and location systems. Some of the common conclusions of the different working groups discussions are that: 1) Studies are needed of the sensitivity of the ocean response to errors in surface parameters (wind stress, heat flux, SST etc.) in a variety of physical models. These should be one of the basis for determining the accuracy requirements in WOCE and TOGA.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Characteristics of the oceanic mixed layer over the North Pacific were examined utilizing a number of statistical methods. Based on the analyses of twelve years of data, a quasi-meridional differentiation (QMD) in sea surface temperature (SST) spectra across the North Pacific was observed. The SST spectra became increasingly red as an increasing function of latitude. A strong 21 to 26 day cycle in SST anomalies is discussed which may be a reflection of heat fluxes. These fluxes also vacillate significantly on this time-scale in conjunction with cycles observed in the atmospheric energy modes of available potential and kinetic energy. Examination of an oceanic heat budget on a spatial and temporal basis suggest that the impact of latent and sensible heat fluxes upon .delta. SST is partially a function of the magnitude of the heat fluxes as well as of the depth to which their effects are mixed. The heat budget analyses and the fitting of power spectra of SST anomalies over the North Pacific to a two-parameter oceanic model, suggest that SST behavior over the mid-oceanic regions of the North Pacific is dominated by the influence of latent and sensible heat fluxes. On the other hand, over the remainder of the North Pacific one could surmise that other processes, such as advection of heat within the ocean, the entrainment heat flux at the base of the mixed layer, and radiation are at least as important in determining the behavior of SST's. By analyzing anomalous patterns of atmospheric thickness and SST's, it appears that the modification of air masses as they are advected over oceanic waters, as well as the stability of the lower atmosphere, are instrumental factors in determining the nature of large-scale air-sea heat exchange processes.

Author: Carlos R. Mechoso
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108492703
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 359

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A comprehensive review of interactions between the climates of different ocean basins and their key contributions to global climate variability and change. Providing essential theory and discussing outstanding examples as well as impacts on monsoons, it a useful resource for graduate students and researchers in the atmospheric and ocean sciences.

Author: T. R. Oke
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108179363
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 549

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Urban Climates is the first full synthesis of modern scientific and applied research on urban climates. The book begins with an outline of what constitutes an urban ecosystem. It develops a comprehensive terminology for the subject using scale and surface classification as key constructs. It explains the physical principles governing the creation of distinct urban climates, such as airflow around buildings, the heat island, precipitation modification and air pollution, and it then illustrates how this knowledge can be applied to moderate the undesirable consequences of urban development and help create more sustainable and resilient cities. With urban climate science now a fully-fledged field, this timely book fulfills the need to bring together the disparate parts of climate research on cities into a coherent framework. It is an ideal resource for students and researchers in fields such as climatology, urban hydrology, air quality, environmental engineering and urban design.