Article
Oceanography
Zhengbei Zhang, Jing Wang, Dongliang Yuan
Summary: The balance of mixed layer salinity (MLS) in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean has been investigated using observations and model output. The study finds that the annual mean MLS is determined by the balance between surface freshwater forcing and ocean advection. The seasonal variation of MLS in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean is influenced by salt advection associated with the Wyrtki Jet. MLS is lowest in summer due to freshwater advection, while it reaches its maximum in fall due to strong evaporation. During the negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), eastward currents transport high-salinity water, leading to positive MLS anomalies. The MLS balance during positive IOD is nearly the opposite of that during negative IOD.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Review
Oceanography
Shoichiro Kido, Shota Katsura, Masami Nonaka, Youichi Tanimoto
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal variations in sea surface salinity (SSS) in the subtropical North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans and found significant differences between the western and eastern parts of the basins. These variations have important impacts on surface density and result in changes in temperature. Analysis further revealed that the seasonal differences are attributed to variations in freshwater flux and mixed layer depth.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Kai Ge, Yuanlong Li, Yilong Lyu, Pengfei Lin, Lijing Cheng, Fan Wang
Summary: Sea surface salinity has shown a trend of increased salinity in salty regions and increased freshness in fresh regions in the past few decades. Changes in precipitation rate have been identified as the main driver for salinity trends in most tropical and subtropical regions. Wind-driven ocean dynamics and evaporation have secondary contributions. The relationship between sea surface salinity and freshwater fluxes varies by region, with many regions showing opposite trends in salinity and freshwater fluxes.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. L. Bytheway, E. J. Thompson, J. Yang, H. Chen
Summary: Passive aquatic listeners (PALs) have the potential to provide valuable reference data for evaluating satellite-based precipitation estimates (SPEs). In this study, we compare three SPE products (IMERG, CMORPH, and PDIR-Now) to PAL measurements over tropical, extratropical, and global oceans. We find that the SPEs have similar rain rate frequency distributions as PAL, but exhibit biases and performance differences depending on the region and time scale.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Li-Tzu Hou, Bo-Shian Wang, Chao-Chen Lai, Tzong-Yueh Chen, Yung-Yen Shih, Fuh-Kwo Shiah, Chia-Ying Ko
Summary: This study analyzed data from the tropical northern South China Sea between 1999 and 2019, and found a correlation between phytoplankton dynamics and mixed layer depth (MLD), suggesting caution in using surface chlorophyll-a concentration as an indicator of phytoplankton biomass. Higher concentrations were observed in the cold season, and the relationship between MLD and average chlorophyll-a concentrations was more prominent.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nicolas Reul, Bertrand Chapron, Semyon A. Grodsky, Sebastien Guimbard, Vladimir Kudryavtsev, Gregory R. Foltz, Karthik Balaguru
Summary: Decade-long satellite observations show that different intensities and moving speeds of tropical cyclones result in varying sea surface salinity changes on their left and right sides, with the most intense storms causing salinification and being influenced by the vertical salinity gradient in the upper ocean and barrier layers.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Qinbiao Ni, Xiaoming Zhai, Zhibin Yang, Dake Chen
Summary: Mesoscale eddies are common features of the global ocean circulation. Contrary to traditional belief, our recent study found that a significant proportion of these eddies are cold-core anticyclonic eddies and warm-core cyclonic eddies. In tropical oceans, there are more of these unconventional eddies in summer compared to winter, and their formation and seasonal cycle are influenced by factors such as wind stress, surface mixed layer depth, and vertical entrainment. The abundance of these unconventional eddies in the global ocean warrants further research on the topic.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zheng Ling, Zhifeng Chen, Guihua Wang, Hailun He, Changlin Chen
Summary: Satellite observations show that after the passage of a tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, sea surface temperature typically recovers within 30 days, depending on factors such as cooling intensity and cyclone strength. Mixed layer depth and upper layer thermocline temperature gradient are also important factors influencing the SST response to tropical cyclones.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Vittorio Barale
Summary: In the past half century, satellite oceanography has made significant progress and provided abundant remote sensing data, contributing to marine science research.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zheliang Zhang, Zhanhong Ma, Jianfang Fei, Yunxia Zheng, Jiancheng Huang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of tropical cyclones on the thickness of the barrier layer through observations and numerical simulations. Statistical results show that the thickness of the barrier layer increases significantly as the cyclone approaches, reaching its maximum 1-5 days after the cyclone passes, and returning to its pre-storm state within 30 days on average. The study also reveals that precipitation and vertical mixing associated with tropical cyclones play a role in increasing the thickness of the barrier layer.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Valentina Giunta, Brian Ward
Summary: The mixed layer depth (MLD) is an important parameter in oceanographic research. This study suggests that the MLD can be estimated using density/temperature or dissipation. Comparing two data sets from the North Atlantic, it is found that dissipation measurements provide a more accurate representation of MLD variability. With the advancement of ocean microstructure technology, using dissipation to estimate MLD is feasible.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chibuike Chiedozie Ibebuchi, Cameron C. Lee
Summary: Global warming leads to changes in atmospheric thickness, which can be monitored and predicted through research. The study reveals a consistent positive trend in atmospheric layer thickness, but the magnitude varies regionally and seasonally. The impact of tropical and extra-tropical climate modes on these trends is also explored. Strong correlation is found between sea surface temperature changes in the Pacific warm pool region and global average thickness, indicating the significant role of oceanic-atmospheric interactions in driving global climate variations and extremes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Scott J. Davidson, Mariah Smith, Emily Prystupa, Kimberley Murray, Felix C. Nwaishi, Richard M. Petrone, Maria Strack
Summary: This study investigated the drivers of CH4 emissions over the first seven years of ecosystem development at a constructed fen in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, and found that water table depth and sulfate concentrations have an impact on CH4 emissions. Although CH4 emissions remained low throughout the majority of the measurement period, a small but significant increase was observed in later years, likely due to high levels of SO4-.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Sara O. van Vloten, Andrea Pozo, Laura Cagigal, Fernando J. Mendez
Summary: This study develops a statistical seasonal forecasting model using reanalysis datasets of sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth to predict the expected number of tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region. The model utilizes a novel TC predictor index and employs a clustering algorithm to objectively classify synoptic weather patterns. The research finds statistical relationships between TC activity and nonlinear combinations of predictor variables, and demonstrates the operational application of the model using ensembles of long-term predictions. The study provides valuable insight into the factors influencing tropical cyclone formation and activity in the Southwest Pacific.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Eunna Jang, Young Jun Kim, Jungho Im, Young-Gyu Park
Summary: The study improved the SMAP SSS in five river-dominated oceans using machine learning methods, reducing RMSE by up to 28% and showing that the RF model outperformed SVR and ANN, capturing spatial and temporal patterns of SSS for both low and high salinity water.
GISCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING
(2021)
