A study on the Antarctic circumpolar wave mode-A coexistence system of standing and traveling wave

The Antarctic circumpolar wave （ACW） has become a focus of the air-sea coupled Southern Ocean study since 1996, when it was discovered as an air-sea coupled interannual signal propagating eastward in the region of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current （ACC）. In order to analyze the mechanism of discontinuity along the latitudinal propagation, a new idea that ACW is a system with a traveling wave in the Southern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean and with a concurrent standing wave in the southern Indian Ocean is proposed in this paper. Based on the ideal wave principle, the average wave parameters of ACW is achieved using a non-linear approximation method, by which we find that the standing part and the traveling part possess similar radius frequency, proving their belonging to an integral system. We also give the latitudinal distribution of wave speed with which we could tell the reason for steady propagation during the same period. The spatial distribution of the propagation reveals complex process with variant spatial and temporal scales--The ENSO scale oscillation greatly impacts on the traveling process, while the result at the south of Australia indicates little connection between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, which may be blocked by the vibration at the west of the Pacific. The advective effect of ACC on the propagation process should be examined clearly through dynamical method.     

Structure analyses of the explosive extratropical cyclone: A case study over the Northwestern Pacific in March 2007

The synoptic situation and mesoscale structure of an explosive extratropical cyclone over the Northwestern Pacific in March 2007 are investigated through weather station observations and data reanalysis. The cyclone is located beneath the poleward side of the exit of a 200 hPa jet, which is a strong divergent region aloft. At mid-level, the cyclone lies on the downstream side of a well-developed trough, where a strong ascending motion frequently occurs. Cross-section analyses with weather station data show that the cyclone has a warm and moist core. A ‘nose' of the cold front, which is characterized by a low-level protruding structure in the equivalent potential temperature field, forms when the cyclone moves offshore. This ‘nose' structure is hypothesized to have been caused by the heating effect of the Kuroshio Current. Two low-level jet streams are also identified on the western and eastern sides of the cold front. The western jet conveys cold and dry air at 800–900 hPa. The wind in the northern part is northeasterly, and the wind in the southern part is northwesterly. By contrast, the eastern jet carries warm and moist air into the cyclone system, ascending northward from 900 hPa to 600–700 hPa. The southern part is dominated by the southerly wind, and the wind in the northern part is southwesterly. The eastern and western jets significantly increase the air temperature and moisture contrast in the vicinity of the cold front. This increase could play an important role in improving the rapid cyclogenesis process.     

An N-shape thermal front in the western South Yellow Sea in winter

An N-shape thermal front in the western South Yellow Sea (YS) in winter was detected using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiation (AVHRR) Sea Surface Temperature data and in-situ observations with a merged front-detecting method. The front, which exists from late October through early March, consists of western and eastern wings extending roughly along the northeast-southwest isobaths with a southeastward middle segment across the 20–50 m isobaths. There are north and south inflexions connecting the middle segment with the western and eastern wings, respectively. The middle segment gradually moves southwestward from November through February with its length increasing from 62 km to 107 km and the southern inflexion moving from 36.2°N to 35.3°N. A cold tongue is found to coexist with the N-shape front, and is carried by the coastal jet penetrating southward from the tip of the Shandong Peninsula into the western South YS as revealed by a numerical simulation. After departing from the coast, the jet flows as an anti-cyclonic recirculation below 10 m depth, trapping warmer water originally carried by the compensating Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC). A northwestward flowing branch of the YSWC is also found on the lowest level south of the front. The N-shape front initially forms between the cold tongue and warm water involved in the subsurface anti-cyclonical recirculation and extends upwards to the surface through vertical advection and mixing. Correlation analyses reveal that northerly and easterly winds tend to be favorable to the formation and extension of the N-shape front probably through strengthening of the coastal jet and shifting the YSWC pathway eastward, respectively.     

Response of the South China Sea summer monsoon onset to air-sea heat fluxes over the Indian Ocean

We objectively define the onset date of the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon, after having evaluated previous studies and considered various factors. Then, interannual and interdecadal characteristics of the SCS summer monsoon onset are analyzed. In addition, we calculate air-sea heat fluxes over the Indian Ocean using the advanced method of CORARE3.0, based on satellite remote sensing data. The onset variation cycle has remarkable interdecadal variability with cycles of 16 a and 28 a. Correlation analysis between air-sea heat fluxes in the Indian Ocean and the SCS summer monsoon indicates that there is a remarkable lag correlation between them. This result has important implications for prediction of the SCS summer monsoon, and provides a scientific basis for further study of the onset process of this monsoon and its prediction. Based on these results, a linear regression equation is obtained to predict the onset date of the monsoon in 2011 and 2012. The forecast is that the onset date of 2011 will be normal or 1 pentad earlier than the normal year, while the onset date in 2012 will be 1-2 pentads later.     

Features and spatial distribution of circumpolar deep water in the southern Indian Ocean and the effects of Antarctic circum polar current

The data from the Southern Ocean observations of World Ocean Circulation Experiment(WOCE) are used for analysis and illustration of the features and spatial distributions of Circumpolar Deep Water(CDW) in the southern Indian Ocean.It is learnt from the comparison among the vertical distributions of temperature/salinity/oxygen along the 30°E,90°E and 145°E sections respectively that some different features of CDW and the fronts can be found at those longitudes,and those differences can be attributed to the zonal transoceanic flow and the merizonal movement in the Circumpolar Deep Water.In fact,the zonal transoceanic flow is the main dynamic factor for the water exchange between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean or between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean,and for the effects on the spatial distributions of the physical properties in CDW.     

The Dependence of Water Exchanges between the Kuroshio Water and Its Surroundings on the Characteristics of the Kuroshio‘s Meanders

Observation of fluid parcel pathways in the Kuroshio Stream revealed a striking crossstream pattern associated with the Kuroshio‘‘ s meanders. In order to understand the observed pattern, a two-dimensional kinematic model of a meandering jet was developed which could be used to examine the relationship between streamfunction patterns and fluid parcel trajectories. The experiments designed to investigate the dependence of the water exchanges between the Kuroshio water and its surroundings on the characteristics of the Kuroshio‘‘s meanders involved the downstream speed,phase speed and the amplitude of other propagating waves. The results suggested that fluid parcels could cross the meandering jet to and fro; and that the water exchanges between the Kuroshio and its surroundings increased with a) increasing meander amplitude, b) decreasing downstream speed, and c) increasing wave phase speed. The results also showed that when the meandering jet was disturbed by other propagating waves, more effective water exchanges could be induced.     

Phytoplankton abundance and community structure in the Antarctic polar frontal region during austral summer of 2009

The Antarctic polar front region in the Southern Ocean is known to be most productive. We studied the phytoplankton community structure in the Indian sector at this frontal location during late austral summer (February, 2009) onboard R/V Akademic Boris Petrov. We used the phytoplankton and microheterotrophs abundance, as also the associated physico-chemical parameters to explain the low phytoplankton abundance in the study region. This study emphasizes the shift of phytoplankton, from large (>10 μm) to small (<10 μm) size. The phytoplankton abundance appears to be controlled by physical parameters and by nutrient concentrations and also by the microheterotrophs (ciliates and dinoflagellates) which exert a strong grazing pressure. This probably reduces small (<10 μm) and large (>10 μm) phytoplankton abundance during the late austral summer. This study highlights the highly productive polar front nevertheless becomes a region of low phytoplankton abundance, due to community shifts towards pico-phytoplankton (<10 μm) during late austral summer.     

Southern ocean SST variability and its relationship with ENSO on inter-decadal time scales

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis reveals a co-variability of Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Southern Hemisphere (0°-60°S). In the South Indian and Atlantic Oceans, there is a subtropical dipole pattern slanted in the southwest- north-east direction. In the South Pacific Ocean, a meridional tripole structure emerges, whose middle pole co-varies with the dipoles in the South Indian and Atlantic Oceans and is used in this study to track subtropical Pacific variability. The South Indian and Atlantic Ocean dipoles and the subtropical Pacific variability are phase-locked in austral summer. On the inter-decadal time scales, the dipoles in the South Indian and Atlantic Oceans weaken in amplitude after 1979/1980. No such weakening is found in the subtropical South Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, despite the reduced amplitude, the correlation of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic dipoles with El Nio and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are enhanced after 1979/1980. The same increase in correlation is found for subtropical South Pacific variability after 1979/1980. These inter-decadal modulations imply that the Southern Hemisphere participates in part of the climate shift in the late 1970s. The correlation between Southern Hemisphere SST and ENSO reduces after 2000.     

Laetmonice iocasica sp.nov.,a new polychaete species(Annelida:Aphroditidae) from seamounts in the tropical Western Pacific,with remarks on L.producta Grube,1877

Laetmonice Kinberg,1856 is a remarkable genus characterized by having harpoon notochaetae in the polychaete family Aphroditidae.We describe a new species of Laetmonice,Laetmonice iocasica sp.nov.,found from seamounts on the Caroline Ridge in the tropical Western Pacific.The new species is readily distinguished from congeners,particularly those distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean by possessing45 segments with 18 pairs of elytra,and the tuberculated harpoon notochaetae in the elytrigerous segments,which are replaced by tuberculated notochaetae without recurved fangs on segments 4 and 5.Laetmonice iocasica sp.nov.is closely related to L.producta Grube,1877,but differs in both morphology and the genetic distance of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I(COI) sequences.Laetmonice producta Grube,1877 contained five varieties reported in various marine areas,which have been raised to species level.However,the records of L.producta from the Sagami B ay and Suruga B ay in Japan and in the south-eastern Australia remain obscure and probably represent a different species.The data indicate that L.producta,which was originally described from Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean and later commonly found on the Antarctic shelf,is probably distributed only at high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.     

Interannual variability of the spring Wyrtki Jet

Feature s of the interannual variability of the spring Wyrtki Jet in the tropical Indian Ocean are revealed using observation data and model output.The results show that the jet has significant interannual variation,which has a significant correlation with winter El Nino Modoki index(R=0.62).During spring after an El Nino(La Nina) Modoki event,the Wyrtki Jet has a positive(negative) anomaly,forced by a westerly(easterly) wind anomaly.The result of a linear-continuously stratified model shows that the first two baroclinic modes explain most of the interannual variability of the spring Wyrtki Jet(-70%) and the third to fifth modes together account for approximately 30%.Surface wind anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean are related to the Walker circulation anomaly associated with El Nino/La Nina Modoki.The interannual variability of the spring Wyrtki Jet has an evident impact on sea surface salinity transport before the onset phase of the summer monsoon in the Indian Ocean.     

Variabilities of surface current in the tropical Pacific Ocean

The Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) package is used to better understand the variabilities of surface current transport in the Tropical Pacific Ocean from 1950 to 1999. Seasonal variation, internnual and decadal variability analyses are conducted on the three major surface currents of the Tropical Pacific Ocean: the North Equatorial Current (NEC), the North Equatorial Countecurrent (NECC), and the South Equatorial Current (SEC). The transport of SEC is quite larger than those of NEC and NECC. The SEC has two maximums in February and August. The NEC has a small annual variation. The NECC has a maximum in October and is very weak in March and April. All currents have remarkable interannual and decadal variabilities. The variabilities of the NEC and the SEC related to the winds over them well, but the relationship between the NECC and the wind over it is not close. Analysis related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) suggests that before El Niño (La Niña) the SEC is weaker (stronger) and the NECC is stronger (weaker), after El Niño (La Niña) the SEC is stronger (weaker) and the SEC is weaker (stronger). There is no notable relationship between the NEC and ENSO.     

Sea Salt Sodium Record in a Shallow Ice Core from East Antarctica as a Potential Proxy of the Antarctic Sea Ice Extent in Southern Indian Ocean

Antarctic sea ice has experienced an increasing trend in recent decades, especially in the Ross Sea and Indian Ocean sectors. Sea ice variability affects greatly the maritime airmass transport from high latitude to Antarctic continent. Here we present a new ice core record of sea salt sodium(ssNa+) concentration at annual-resolution in the Princess Elizabeth Land spanning from 1990 to 2016, showing that this marker could be used as a potential proxy for reconstructing the sea ice extent(SIE) in the Southern Indian Ocean(SIO) given their significant correlation(R =-0.6, P 0.01) over the past 27 years. The correlation and composite analyses results show that the ssNa~+ at the 202 km inland from Zhongshan Station and the SIE changes in SIO are closely related to the Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD) and Southern Annular Mode(SAM). The northward wind in central SIO occurs during positive IOD and the strengthened westerlies occurs during positive SAM, both of which favor increased sea ice in SIO and lead to the decreased ssNa~+ concentration at the coastal site.     

Statistical characteristics of austral summer cyclones in Southern Ocean

Characteristics of cyclones and explosively developing cyclones (or ’bombs’) over the Southern Ocean in austral summer (December, January and February) from 2004 to 2008 are analyzed by using the Final Analysis (FNL) data produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of the United States. Statistical results show that both cyclones and explosively developing cyclones frequently develop in January, and most of them occur within the latitudinal zone between 55°S and 70°S. These cyclones gradually approach the Antarctic Continent from December to February. Generally cyclones and bombs move east-southeastward with some exceptions of northeastward movement. The lifetime of cyclones is around 2-6 d, and the horizontal scale is about 1000 km. Explosive cyclones have the lifetime of about 1 week with the horizontal scale reaching up to 3000 km. Compared with cyclones developed in the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones over the southern ocean have much higher occurrence frequency, lower central pressure and larger horizontal scale, which may be caused by the unique geographical features of the Southern Hemisphere.     

Influence of the Eastern Indian Ocean Warm Pool Variability on the Spring Precipitation in China

The relationship between the variability of the Eastern India Ocean Warm Pool （EIWP） and the spring precipitation in China is studied in the paper based on an analysis of the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation （SODA） Sea Surface Temperature （SST） data, the reanalysis data of monthly grid wind field at 925 hPa with a resolution of 2.5^＊ latitude and longitude from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research （NCEP/NCAR）, and the monthly mean rainfall data from 160 observational stations in China. The results show that there is a strong correlation between the EIWP variability and the spring precipitation in China. The area, volume and intensity indices of the EIWP are negatively correlated with the spring precipitation in southwestern China, while they are positively correlated with the spring precipitation in the rest of China, especially in the northeast. For this correlation between the EIWP variability and the spring precipitation in China, it is found that the correlative relationship is mainly connected with the variations of the moisture transport by the warm air flow, which is under the influence of the EIWP variability, into the inland of China in spring. Two causative factors may influence this transport. One is the variation of the moisture transport carried by the warm air flow from the Arabian Sea influenced by the EIWP variability. The other is the variation of the equator-crossing flow （70^＊-90^＊E） influenced by the EIWP anomaly in the previous winter which exerts its effect on the moist warm air transported from the Southern Hemisphere. The position and intensity of the Western North Pacific Subtropical High （WNPSH） variability caused by EIWP variation also influence the spring precipitation in China.     

Coastal upwelling and coastal jets in continuously stratified seas

Nonlinear numerical models of continuously stratified seas are developed for vertical sections to study the mechanism of coastal upwelling and coastal jets in two kinds of seas: the so-called finite or closed sea bounded by two vertical coastal coasts, without elevation of sea surface, but with a flat bottom; and the semi-infinite sea bounded by only one vertical coast, with both an elevation of sea surface and a flat or inclined bottom. Constant wind stress in the first case, and constant wind stress or negative wind stress curl in the second case, are abruptly imposed. The key procedure for the mathematical analysis is to calculate the horizontal pressure gradient first by a special treatment. In the first case, the variation of horizontal components of velocity is changed with time to show three successive time intervals. The results show that the width of baroclinic jets depends upon (σS)^1/2, and that distribution of isopycnic lines delineates the warm and cold regions. The relative importance of each term in the equilibrium among forces is thus determined. Distribution of stream function in vertical section reveals the upper and bottom Ekman layers. Two coastal jets are found with different alongshore velocities. The distribution of density anomalies displays the horizontal diffusion adjustment. An unstable case appears at different surface boundary conditions. In the second case, the vertical velocity will be stronger in the sea with less stratification, with an inclined bottom, and with a negative wind stress curl. The horizonatal offshore velocity increases in strength in a sea with inclined bottom and with negative wind stress curl. The vertical circulation pattern reveals the upwelling only. The distribution of density shows the isopycnic lines lifted upward near the shores. Obviously, the range of elevation of sea surface near the shore is larger than that far offshore. The jet width is less than the Rossby radius of deformation. A stronger jet will occur in more shallow water with negative wind stress curl. The coastal jet does not develop when the coefficient of horizontal turbulence increases to a certain limiting value.     

Meridional Variation of the 1955-2003 Sea Level Anomalies in the Tropical Pacific Ocean Associated with El Ni(n)o Events

The Sea Level Anomaly-Torque (SLAT, relative to a reference location in the Pacific Ocean), which means the total torque of the gravity forces of sea waters with depths equal to the Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) in the tropical Pacific Ocean, is defined in this study. The time series of the SLAT from merged altimeter data (1993-2003) had a great meridional variation during the 1997-1998 El Ni(n)o event. By using historical upper layer temperature data (1955-2003) for the tropical Pacific Ocean, the temperature-based SLAT is also calculated and the meridional variation can be found in the historical El Ni(n)o events (1955-2003), which suggests that the meridional shifts of the sea level anomaly are also intrinsic oscillating modes of the El Ni(n)o cycles like the zonal shifts.     

Principal North Pacific heating anomaly patterns and their relations to the atmospheric circulation

The principal variability patterns (EOF) of the anomalies of total heat transfer from ocean to atmosphere computed from 30 years' monthly averaged data over the North Pacific Ocean (20°–60°N) showed variability was dominated by two patterns: a bipolar pattern and a dominantly positive or negative pattern depending on the sign of the time series coefficients. The atmosphere contributes greatly to the marine heating anomalies in most of the North Pacific in all seasons. In winter, a positive feedback is formed between the Aleutian Low and the marine heating anomalies; in summer, the marine heating anomalies are controlled by the heating on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Both patterns have a winter correlation with the Southern Oscillation Index. Contribution No. 1534 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica     

Distribution pattern and geochemical analysis of rare earth elements in deep-ocean sediments

The content and distribution pattern of rare earth elements(REEs) in surface sediments from the Eastern and Western Pacific Ocean,the Northern and Southern Atlantic Ocean,and the Southwestern Indian Ocean were explored and the resources and geochemical characteristics of REEs in deep-ocean sediments from different oceans were studied.The total REE abundances(∑EE) in the different oceans ranged as follows:Eastern Pacific,56.88-500.02 μg/g;Western Pacific,290.68-439.94 μg/g;Northern Atlantic,55.3 3-154.90 μg/g;Southern Atlantic,40.83-69.30 μg/g;and Southwestern Indian Ocean,20.24-64.76 μg/g.Their corresponding LREE(La-Eu)/HREE(Gd-Lu) average values were 5.18,5.86,9.01,5.21,and 4.59,which indicated that the light REEs were all evidently enriched.δEu and δCe showed slight Eu-negative anomalies and significant Ce-positive anomalies in all sediments.Although the contents of REEs in the sediments varied among the different oceans,the distribution patterns of REEs were similar,and the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.929 0.In the Eastern Pacific sediments,TREE showed a significantly positive correlation with Co,Cu,Zn,Mn,Mo and a weak correlation with Fe.In the Western Pacific and Southern Atlantic sediments,TREE presented no obvious correlation and a weakly negative correlation with Co,Cu,Zn,Mn,Mo and Fe,respectively.TREE in the Southwestern Indian Ocean sediments positively correlated with Cu,Zn,Mn,Mo,Fe,and had a weakly negative correlation with Co.     

An isopycnic-coordinate internal tide model and its application to the South China Sea

A three-dimensional isopycnic-coordinate ocean model for the study of internal tides is presented. In this model, the ocean interior is viewed as a stack of isopycnic layers, each characterized by a constant density. The isopycnic coordinate performs well at tracking the depth variance of the thermocline, and is suitable for simulation of internal tides. This model consists of external and internal modes, and barotropic and baroclinic motions are calculated in the two modes, respectively. The capability of simulating internal tides was verified by comparing model results with an analytical solution. The model was then applied to the simulation of internal tides in the South China Sea (SCS) with the forcing of M2 and K1 tidal constituents. The results show that internal tides in the SCS are mainly generated in the Luzon Strait. The generated M2 internal tides propagate away in three different directions (branches). The branch with the widest tidal beam propagates eastward into the Pacific Ocean, the most energetic branch propagates westward toward Dongsha Island, and the least energetic branch propagates southwestward into the basin of the SCS. The generated K1 internal tides propagate in two different directions (branches). One branch propagates eastward into the Pacific Ocean, and the other branch propagates southwestward into the SCS basin. The steepening process of internal tides due to shoaling effects is described briefly. Meridionally integrated westward energy fluxes into the SCS are comparable to the meridionally integrated eastward energy fluxes into the Pacific Ocean.     

234Th-derived particulate organic carbon export flux in the western Arctic Ocean

To evaluate the particle dynamics and estimate the POC (particulate organic carbon) export flux from the euphotic zone in the western Arctic Ocean, ²³⁴Th-²³⁸U disequilibrium was applied during the second Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (July 15–September 26, 2003). The POC export fluxes are estimated from the measured profiles of the ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U activity ratios and the POC/PTh ratios. The average residence times of the particulate and dissolved ²³⁴Th in the euphotic zone are 33 d and 121 d, and their average export fluxes are 480 dpm/m²d and 760 dpm/m²d, respectively. The scavenging and removal processes of particle reactive elements are active in the upper layer of the Chukchi Sea. The average residence time of ²³⁴Th increases from shelf to basin, while the export fluxes of ²³⁴Th decrease. The estimated POC export fluxes from the euphotic zone vary from 2.1 to 20.3 mmol/m²d, indicating that the western Arctic Ocean is an important carbon sink in summer due to efficient biological pump.