Equatorial deep jets and their in influence on the mean equatorial circulation in an idealized ocean model forced by intraseasonal momentum flux convergence.

Bastin, Swantje , Claus, Martin , Brandt, Peter and Greatbatch, Richard John (2020) Equatorial deep jets and their in influence on the mean equatorial circulation in an idealized ocean model forced by intraseasonal momentum flux convergence. Open Access Geophysical Research Letters, 47 (10). Art.Nr. e2020GL087808. DOI 10.1029/2020GL087808.

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Abstract

Equatorial deep jets (EDJ) are vertically stacked, downward propagating zonal currents that alternate in direction with depth. In the tropical Atlantic, they have been shown to influence both surface conditions and tracer variability. Despite their importance, the EDJ are absent in most ocean models. Here we show that EDJ can be generated in an idealized ocean model when the model is driven only by the convergence of the meridional flux of intraseasonal zonal momentum diagnosed from a companion model run driven by steady wind forcing, corroborating the recent theory that intraseasonal momentum flux convergence maintains the EDJ. Additionally, the EDJ in our model nonlinearly generate mean zonal currents at intermediate depths that show similarities in structure to the observed circulation in the deep equatorial Atlantic, indicating their importance for simulating the tropical ocean mean state.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Equatorial deep jets; Tropical Atlantic; Equatorial intermediate current system; NEMO ocean model
Research affiliation: OceanRep > SFB 754
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-OD Ocean Dynamics
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-PO Physical Oceanography
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union), Wiley
Related URLs:
Projects: SFB754
Date Deposited: 04 May 2020 09:13
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2023 09:41
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/49591

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