Vertical Turbulent Cooling of the Mixed Layer in the Atlantic ITCZ and Trade Wind Regions.

Foltz, Gregory R., Hummels, Rebecca, Dengler, Marcus , Perez, Renellys C. and Araujo, Moacyr (2020) Vertical Turbulent Cooling of the Mixed Layer in the Atlantic ITCZ and Trade Wind Regions. Open Access Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125 (2). Art.Nr. e2019JC015529. DOI 10.1029/2019JC015529.

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Abstract

The causes of the seasonal cycle of vertical turbulent cooling at the base of the mixed layer are assessed using observations from moored buoys in the tropical Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) (4°N, 23°W) and trade wind (15°N, 38°W) regions together with mixing parameterizations and a one-dimensional model. At 4°N the parameterized turbulent cooling rates during 2017–2018 and 2019 agree with indirect estimates from the climatological mooring heat budget residual: both show mean cooling of 25–30 W m (Formula presented.) during November–July, when winds are weakest and the mixed layer is thinnest, and 0–10 W m (Formula presented.) during August–October. Mixing during November–July is driven by variability on multiple time scales, including subdiurnal, near-inertial, and intraseasonal. Shear associated with tropical instability waves (TIWs) is found to generate mixing and monthly mean cooling of 15–30 W m (Formula presented.) during May–July in 2017 and 2019. At 15°N the seasonal cycle of turbulent cooling is out of phase compared to 4°N, with largest cooling of up to 60 W m (Formula presented.) during boreal fall. However, the relationships between wind speed, mixed layer depth, and turbulent mixing are similar: weaker mean winds and a thinner mixed layer in the fall are associated with stronger mixing and turbulent cooling of SST. These results emphasize the importance of seasonal modulations of mixed layer depth at both locations and shear from TIWs at 4°N.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: mixing; near-inertial waves; sea surface temperature; tropical Atlantic tropical instability waves
Research affiliation: OceanRep > SFB 754
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-PO Physical Oceanography
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union), Wiley
Projects: RACE, SFB754
Date Deposited: 23 Mar 2020 11:05
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2023 09:38
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/49285

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