State-Dependence of Atmospheric Response to Extratropical North Pacific SST Anomalies.

Zhou, Guidi, Latif, Mojib , Greatbatch, Richard John and Park, Wonsun (2017) State-Dependence of Atmospheric Response to Extratropical North Pacific SST Anomalies. Open Access Journal of Climate, 30 (2). pp. 509-525. DOI 10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0672.1.

[thumbnail of jcli-d-15-0672.1.pdf]
Preview
Text
jcli-d-15-0672.1.pdf - Published Version

Download (5MB) | Preview

Supplementary data:

Abstract

By performing two sets of high-resolution atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments, we find that the atmospheric response to a sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the extratropical North Pacific is sensitive to decadal variations of the background SST on which the SST anomaly is superimposed. The response in the first set of experiments, in which the SST anomaly is superimposed on the observed daily SST of 1981-1990, strongly differs from the response in the second experiment, in which the same SST anomaly is superimposed on the observed daily SST of 1991-2000. The atmospheric response over the North Pacific during 1981-1990 is eddy-mediated, equivalent barotropic and concentrated in the east. In contrast, the atmospheric response during 1991-2000 is weaker and strongest in the west. The results are discussed in terms of Rossby wave dynamics, with the proposed primary wave source switching from baroclinic eddy vorticity forcing over the eastern North Pacific in 1981-1990 to mean flow divergence over the western North Pacific in 1991-2000. The wave source changes are linked to the decadal reduction of daily SST variability over the eastern North Pacific and strengthening of the Oyashio Extension front over the western North Pacific. Thus, both daily and frontal aspects of the background SST variability in determining the atmospheric response to extratropical North Pacific SST anomalies are emphasized by our AGCM experiments.

Document Type: Article
Funder compliance: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/308299
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-TM Theory and Modeling
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-ME Maritime Meteorology
OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
Kiel University
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AMS (American Meteorological Society)
Projects: Future Ocean, MiKlip, RACE, NACLIM
Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2016 08:24
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2020 07:27
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/34007

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item