Climate and Upper Layer Temperature Structure of the Atlantic Ocean

Principal Investigators:: Robert Molinari; Hugo Bezdek; Donald Hansen; John Festa; Dennis A. Mayer

Objective:

Increased understanding of the role of the Atlantic Ocean in global atmsopheric climate. Improvement of numerical models used by NCEP in seasonal forecast efforts.

Method:

Define coupled signals in upper ocean and lower atmosphere and determine dynamics of the coupling. Compare results from NCEP models with data to correct model deficiencies. Define relation of sea surface height signals from satellite altimetry with in situ density structure.

Accomplishments:

Decadal variability in the upper layer temperature fields of the subtropical North Atlantic has been identified and shown to be qualitatively correlated with atmospheric variability. The SST signals have also been shown to propagate through the basin rather than being stationary patterns. Comparisons of model results with the data shows similar air-sea modes of variability. The mean and annual cycle of the Atlantic gyres and their relation to surface forcing fields have been identified.

Plans:

Definition of the dynamics of the apparently coupled air-sea modes of variability through continued analysis of the data and model results. Begin comparisons of NCEP model runs with in situ data to determine model deficiencies and strengths. Compare TOPEX/POSEIDEN representations of sea surface height variability with variability estimated from in situ determinations of sea surface height. Comparisons will ultimately lead to strengths and weaknesses of satellite altimetric observations of sea surface height and methods to effectively monitor the ocean.

Publications:

1990
Mayer, D.A., R.L. Molinari, and R. Weisberg 1990: Analysis of Volunteer observing ship temperature fields in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Oceanologica Acta, 13, 257-264.

1992
Festa, J.F., and R.L. Molinari 1992: An evaluation of the WOCE volunteer observing ship-XBT network in the Atlantic. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 9, 305-317.

1993
Mayer, D. A., and R. H. Weisberg, 1993: A description of COADS surface meteorological fields and the implied Sverdrup transports for the Atlantic Ocean from 30S to 60N. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 23, 2201-2221.

McCreary, J.P., P.K. Kundu, and R.L. Molinari 1993: A numerical investigation of dynamics, thermodynamics and mixed-layer processes in the Indian Ocean. Progress in Oceanography, 31, 181-244.

1994
Enfield, D. B., and D. A. Mayer, 1994: Inter-American rainfall response to tropical Atlantic and Pacific SST variability. AGU Abstract, 1994 Fall Meeting, paper #O31E-5.

Molinari, R.L., and E. Johns 1994: Upper layer temperature structure of the western tropical Atlantic, Journal of Geophysical Research, 99, 18,225-18,233.

1995
Mayer, D. A., J. F. Festa, M. L. Molinari, and D. Behringer, 1995: Model and observed upper layer temperature structure of the gyres of the Atlantic Ocean. In, Proceedings, ACCP Principal Investigators Meeting , 2-4 May, 1995, Anne-Marie Wilburn, Ed., University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 205 pp.

Enfield, D. B., and D. A. Mayer, 1995: Tropical Atlantic SST variability and its relations to Pacific SST and western hemisphere rainfall. In, Proceedings, ACCP Principal Investigators Meeting , 2-4 May, 1995, Anne-Marie Wilburn, Ed., University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 205 pp.

1996
Halliwell, G. R. Jr., and D. A. Mayer, 1996: Frequency response properties of forced climatic SST anomaly variability in the North Atlantic. J. Climate, 9, 3575-3587.

1997
Enfield, D. B., and D. A. Mayer, 1997: Tropical Atlantic SST variability and its relation to El Nio-Southern Oscillation. J. Geophys. Res., 102(C1), 929-945.

Molinari, R.L., D.A. Mayer, J.F. Festa, and H.F. Bezdek (1997). Multiyear variability in the near-surface temperature structure of the midlatitude western North Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102, 3267-3278.

1998
Mayer, D.A., J.F. Festa (1998), The Mean and Annual Cycle of Upper Layer Temperature Fields in Relation to Sverdrup Dynamics within the Gyres of the Atlantic Ocean, Resubmitted to Journal of Geophysical Research.