Modulation of E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation by Freshwater Flux and Salinity Variability in the Tropical Pacific
The E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） is emphasized the roles of wind stress and heat flux environmental forcing to the ocean; its effect and modulated by many factors; most previous studies have in the tropical Pacific. Freshwater flux （FWF） is another the related ocean salinity variability in t...
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| Published in | 大气科学进展：英文版 Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 647 - 660 |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
2012
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） is emphasized the roles of wind stress and heat flux environmental forcing to the ocean; its effect and modulated by many factors; most previous studies have in the tropical Pacific. Freshwater flux （FWF） is another the related ocean salinity variability in the ENSO region have been of increased interest recently. Currently, accurate quantifications of the FWF roles in the climate remain challenging; the related observations and coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling involve large elements of uncertainty. In this study, we utilized satellite-based data to represent FWF-induced feedback in the tropical Pacific climate system; we then incorporated these data into a hybrid coupled ocean-atmosphere model （HCM） to quantify its effects on ENSO. A new mechanism was revealed by which interannual FWF forcing modulates ENSO in a significant way. As a direct forcing, FWF exerts a significant influence on the ocean through sea surface salinity （SSS） and buoyancy flux （QB） in the western-central tropical Pacific. The SSS perturbations directly induced by ENSO-related interannual FWF variability affect the stability and mixing in the upper ocean. At the same time, the ENSO-induced FWF has a compensating effect on heat flux, acting to reduce interannual Qs variability during ENSO cycles. These FWF-induced processes in the ocean tend to modulate the vertical mixing and entrainment in the upper ocean, enhancing cooling during La Nifia and enhancing warming during E1 Nifio, respectively. The interannual FWF forcing-induced positive feedback acts to enhance ENSO amplitude and lengthen its time scales in the tropical Pacific coupled climate system. |
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| Bibliography: | freshwater flux （FWF） forcing and feedback, sea surface salinity （SSS） variability, ENSO modulation, coupled ocean-atmosphere models The E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） is emphasized the roles of wind stress and heat flux environmental forcing to the ocean; its effect and modulated by many factors; most previous studies have in the tropical Pacific. Freshwater flux （FWF） is another the related ocean salinity variability in the ENSO region have been of increased interest recently. Currently, accurate quantifications of the FWF roles in the climate remain challenging; the related observations and coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling involve large elements of uncertainty. In this study, we utilized satellite-based data to represent FWF-induced feedback in the tropical Pacific climate system; we then incorporated these data into a hybrid coupled ocean-atmosphere model （HCM） to quantify its effects on ENSO. A new mechanism was revealed by which interannual FWF forcing modulates ENSO in a significant way. As a direct forcing, FWF exerts a significant influence on the ocean through sea surface salinity （SSS） and buoyancy flux （QB） in the western-central tropical Pacific. The SSS perturbations directly induced by ENSO-related interannual FWF variability affect the stability and mixing in the upper ocean. At the same time, the ENSO-induced FWF has a compensating effect on heat flux, acting to reduce interannual Qs variability during ENSO cycles. These FWF-induced processes in the ocean tend to modulate the vertical mixing and entrainment in the upper ocean, enhancing cooling during La Nifia and enhancing warming during E1 Nifio, respectively. The interannual FWF forcing-induced positive feedback acts to enhance ENSO amplitude and lengthen its time scales in the tropical Pacific coupled climate system. 11-1925/O4 ZHANG Rong-Hua, ZHENG Fei, ZHU Jieshun, PEI Yuhua, ZHENG Quanan, WANG Zhanggui（1Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA 2International Center for Climate and Environment Science, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029 3 Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, Institute of Global Environment and Society, Calverton, Maryland, USA 4 The College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003 5 State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012 6Department of Atmosphere and Ocean Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA 7National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081） |
| ISSN: | 0256-1530 1861-9533 |