DMSP and DMS in coastal fast ice and under-ice water of Lützow-Holm Bay, eastern Antarctica

The combined concentration of total dimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethylsulfide (DMSP+DMS) were measured in Antarctic fast ice on the coast of Lützow-Holm Bay, eastern Antarctica. High bulk-ice DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations were found at the bottom of the sea ice, and these concentrations were higher than those in the under-ice water. The bulk-ice DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations were highly correlated (r²=0.68, P<0.001), suggesting that the high bulk-ice DMSP+DMS concentrations were caused mainly by the presence of algae assemblages in the ice. The calculated brine DMSP+DMS concentrations were as high as 1100 nM in the bottom ice layer, and the vertical profile patterns of brine DMSP+DMS concentrations were almost the same as for the bulk ice, mainly because of the small amount of variability in the vertical brine volume fraction. DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations in the under-ice water increased, whereas the salinity of the under-ice water decreased, during the sampling period. These results reflect the supply of freshwater containing high levels of DMSP+DMS to the water just under the ice as the ice melted. These results suggest that sea-ice melting could be important to sulfur cycling in coastal ice-covered regions of the polar oceans.     

Characteristics of coastal trapped waves along the southern and eastern coasts of Australia

The spatial structures and propagation characteristics of coastal trapped waves (CTWs) along the southern and eastern coasts of Australia are investigated using observed daily mean sea level data and results from a high-resolution ocean general circulation model (OGCM), and by conducting sensitivity studies with idealized numerical models. The results obtained from the sea level observations show that shortterm variations, with a typical period of 1 to 2 weeks, dominate the sea level variability in the southern half of Australia. The signal propagates anticlockwise around Australia with a propagation speed of 4.5 m/s or faster in the western and southern coasts and 2.1 to 3.6 m/s in the eastern coast. Strong seasonality of the wave activity, with large amplitude during austral winter, is also observed. It turns out that the waves are mainly generated by synoptic weather disturbances in the southwestern and southeastern regions. The numerical experiment with idealized wind forcing and realistic topography confirms that the propagating signals have characteristics of the CTW both in the southern and eastern coasts. Sensitivity experiments demonstrate that the difference in the phase speed between the coasts and reduction of the amplitude of the waves in the eastern coast are attributed to the different shape of the continental shelf in each region. The structures and the propagation characteristics of the CTWs around Australia are well reproduced in OFES (OGCM for the Earth Simulator) with dominant contribution from the first mode, although meso-scale eddies may modify the structure of the CTWs in the eastern coast. It is also found that generation or reinforcement of the waves by the wind forcing in the southern part of the eastern coast is necessary to obtain realistically large amplitude of the CTWs in the eastern coast.     

An anthophyllite-hornblende pair from Japan

Chemical, optical and X-ray powder data on coexisting anthophyllite and hornblende in an amphibolite are presented. Some chemical features of amphibole pairs are briefly discussed.     

Anomalous climatic conditions associated with the El Ni?o Modoki during boreal winter of 2009

The winter months from December 2009 to February 2010 witnessed extreme conditions affecting lives of millions of people around the globe. During this winter, the El Ni?o Modoki in the tropical Pacific was a dominant climatic mode. In this study, exclusive impacts of the El Ni?o Modoki are evaluated with an Atmospheric General Circulation Model. Sensitivity experiments are conducted by selectively specifying anomalies of the observed sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific. Observed data are also used in the diagnostics to trace the source of forced Rossby waves. Both the observational results and the model simulated results show that the heating associated with the El Ni?o Modoki in the central tropical Pacific accounted for most of the anomalous conditions observed over southern parts of North America, Europe and over most countries in the Southern Hemisphere viz. Uruguay. Unlike those, the model-simulated results suggest that the anomalously high precipitation observed over Australia and Florida might be associated with the narrow eastern Pacific heating observed during the season.     

Anomalous summer climate in China influenced by the tropical Indo-Pacific Oceans

Possible influences of three coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomena in the Indo-Pacific Oceans, El Niño, El Niño Modoki and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), on summer climate in China are studied based on data analysis for the summers of 1951–2007. Partial correlation/regression analysis is used to find the influence paths through the related anomalous mid- and low-level tropospheric circulations over the oceanic region and East Eurasia, including the western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM). Among the three phenomena, El Niño Modoki has the strongest relationship with the WNPSM. When two or three phenomena coexist with either positive or negative phase, the influences exerted by one phenomenon on summer climate in different regions of China may be enhanced or weakened by other phenomena. In 1994 when both El Niño Modoki and IOD are prominent without El Niño, a strong WNPSM is associated with severe flooding in southern China and severe drought in the Yangtze River Valley (YRV). The 500 hPa high systems over China are responsible for heat waves in most parts of China. In 1983 when a strong negative phase of El Niño Modoki is accompanied by moderate El Niño and IOD, a weak WNPSM is associated with severe flooding in the YRV and severe drought in southern China. The 500 hPa low systems over China are responsible for the cold summer in the YRV and northeastern China. For rainfall, the influence path seems largely through the low-level tropospheric circulations including the WNPSM. For temperature, the influence path seems largely through the mid-level tropospheric circulations over East Eurasia/western North Pacific Ocean.     

An introduction to the South China Sea throughflow: Its dynamics, variability, and application for climate

The South China Sea throughflow (SCSTF) involves the inflow through the Luzon strait and the outflow through the Karimata, Mindoro, and Taiwan straits. Recent studies have suggested that the SCSTF act as a heat and freshwater conveyor, playing a potentially important role in regulating the sea surface temperature pattern in the South China Sea and its adjoining tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. In this introductory paper, we attempt to convey the progress that has recently been made in understanding the SCSTF. We first provide an overview of existing observations, theories, and simulations of the SCSTF. Then, we discuss its interaction with the Pacific western boundary current and Indonesian throughflow. Finally, we summarize issues and questions that remain to be addressed, with special reference to the SCSTF's dynamics, variability, and implication for climate.     

The Increase of Biogenic Sulfate Aerosol and Particle Number in Marine Atmosphere over the Northwestern North Pacific

During a cruise aboard the R/V Hakuho-maru in the northwestern North Pacific in the summer of 1998 the particle number concentrations and the major ionic components of size fractionated aerosols were measured to investigate the aerosol produced by marine biological activity. Continuous low concentrations of nitrate (<1.8 nmol m⁻³), similar to the marine air background level, were found over the northwestern North Pacific (40–45°N) and the Sea of Okhotsk (44–45°N). Over the Sea of Okhotsk, a high concentration of chlorophyll-a (5.4 mg m⁻³) in seawater was observed, and atmospheric concentrations of non sea-salt (nss-) sulfate (44 nmol m⁻³), methane sulfonic acid (MSA) (1.8 nmol m⁻³) and particle number in the size range of 0.1 < D < 0.5 μm (199 cm⁻³) were found to be 9, 7, and 2 times, respectively, higher than those in the background marine air. The increase in particle number concentrations mainly in the size range of 0.2 < D < 0.3 μm was likely caused by the increase of biogenic sulfate over the high productive region of the Sea of Okhotsk. In humid air conditions (R.H. > 96%), the increased biogenic sulfate that condensed the large amount of water vapor would not have sufficient solute mass to activate as cloud condensation nuclei (CNN) and would remain as aerosol particles in the marine air with frequent sea-fogs over the high productive region. Biogenic sulfate originating from dimethyl sulfide (DMS) would gradually grow into the CCN size and continuously supply a great number of CCN to the marine air in the northwestern North Pacific. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intensification of decadal and multi-decadal sea level variability in the western tropical Pacific during recent decades

Previous studies have linked the rapid sea level rise (SLR) in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) since the early 1990s to the Pacific decadal climate modes, notably the Pacific Decadal Oscillation in the north Pacific or Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) considering its basin wide signature. Here, the authors investigate the changing patterns of decadal (10–20 years) and multidecadal (>20 years) sea level variability (global mean SLR removed) in the Pacific associated with the IPO, by analyzing satellite and in situ observations, together with reconstructed and reanalysis products, and performing ocean and atmosphere model experiments. Robust intensification is detected for both decadal and multidecadal sea level variability in the WTP since the early 1990s. The IPO intensity, however, did not increase and thus cannot explain the faster SLR. The observed, accelerated WTP SLR results from the combined effects of Indian Ocean and WTP warming and central-eastern tropical Pacific cooling associated with the IPO cold transition. The warm Indian Ocean acts in concert with the warm WTP and cold central-eastern tropical Pacific to drive intensified easterlies and negative Ekman pumping velocity in western-central tropical Pacific, thereby enhancing the western tropical Pacific SLR. On decadal timescales, the intensified sea level variability since the late 1980s or early 1990s results from the “out of phase” relationship of sea surface temperature anomalies between the Indian and central-eastern tropical Pacific since 1985, which produces “in phase” effects on the WTP sea level variability.