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Volume 24 Issue 5

Sep.  2007

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Article >  ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES  > 2007 >  24(5): 765-780

Sensitivity of the Upper Ocean Temperature and Circulation in the Equatorial Pacific to Solar Radiation Penetration Due to Phytoplankton

  • 1.

    State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP)}, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029,State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029,State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029


doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0765-7

  • Solar radiation penetration in the upper ocean is strongly modulated by phytoplankton, which impacts the upper ocean temperature structure, especially in the regions abundant with phytoplankton. In the paper, a new solar radiation penetration scheme, based on the concentration of chlorophyll-a, was introduced into the LASG/IAP (State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics/Institute of Atmospheric Physics) Climate system Ocean Model (LICOM). By comparing the simulations using this new scheme with those using the old scheme that included the constant e-folding attenuation depths in LICOM, it was found that the sea surface temperature (SST) and circulation in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were both sensitive to the amount of phytoplankton present. Distinct from other regions, the increase of chlorophyll-a concentration would lead to SST decrease in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. The higher chlorophyll-a concentration at the equator in comparison to the off-equator regions can enlarge the subsurface temperature gradient, which in turn strengthens the upper current near the equator and induces an enhancing upwelling. The enhancing upwelling can then lead to a decrease in the SST in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. The results of these two sensitive experiments testify to the fact that the meridional gradient in the chlorophyll-a concentration can result in an enhancement in the upper current and a decrease in the SST, along with the observation that a high chlorophyll-a concentration at the equator is one of the predominant reasons leading to a decrease in the SST. This study points out that these results can be qualitatively different simply because of the choice of the solar radiation penetration schemes for comparison. This can help explain previously reported contradictory conclusions.
  • [1] WANG Lu, and YANG Haijun, 2014: The Role of Atmospheric Teleconnection in the Subtropical Thermal Forcing on the Equatorial Pacific, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 31, 985-994.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-013-3173-1
    [2] LIN Pengfei, LIU Hailong, ZHANG Xuehong, 2008: Effect of Chlorophyll-a Spatial Distribution on Upper Ocean Temperature in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 25, 585-596.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-008-0585-4
    [3] LIN Pengfei, LIU Hailong, YU Yongqiang, ZHANG Xuehong, 2011: Response of Sea Surface Temperature to Chlorophyll-a Concentration in the Tropical Pacific: Annual Mean, Seasonal Cycle, and Interannual Variability, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 28, 492-510.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-010-0015-2
    [4] Yujie WU, Wansuo DUAN, 2018: Impact of SST Anomaly Events over the Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension on the "Summer Prediction Barrier", ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 35, 397-409.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-017-6322-0
    [5] Ben TIAN, Hong-Li REN, 2022: Diagnosing SST Error Growth during ENSO Developing Phase in the BCC_CSM1.1(m) Prediction System, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 39, 427-442.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-021-1189-5
    [6] Juan AO, Jianqi SUN, 2016: The Impact of Boreal Autumn SST Anomalies over the South Pacific on Boreal Winter Precipitation over East Asia, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 33, 644-655.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-015-5067-x
    [7] Zi-Liang LI, Ping WEN, 2017: Comparison between the Response of the Northwest Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea to Typhoon Megi (2010), ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 34, 79-87.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-016-6027-9
    [8] Paxson K. Y. CHEUNG, Wen ZHOU, Dongxiao WANG, Marco Y. T. LEUNG, 2022: Dissimilarity among Ocean Reanalyses in Equatorial Pacific Upper-Ocean Heat Content and Its Relationship with ENSO, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 39, 67-79.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-021-1109-8
    [9] LI Shuanglin, CHEN Xiaoting, 2014: Quantifying the Response Strength of the Southern Stratospheric Polar Vortex to Indian Ocean Warming in Austral Summer, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 31, 492-503.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-013-2322-x
    [10] Shuangmei MA, Congwen ZHU, Juan LIU, 2020: Combined Impacts of Warm Central Equatorial Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures and Anthropogenic Warming on the 2019 Severe Drought in East China, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 37, 1149-1163.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-0077-8
    [11] Kui LIU, Lian-Tong ZHOU, Zhibiao WANG, Yong LIU, 2023: Interdecadal Enhancement in the Relationship between the Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon and Sea Surface Temperature in the Tropical Central-Western Pacific after the Early 1990s, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 40, 1766-1782.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-023-2200-0
    [12] Pan SONG, Jiang ZHU, Zhong ZHONG, Linlin QI, Xiaodan WANG, 2016: Impact of Atmospheric and Oceanic Conditions on the Frequency and Genesis Location of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific in 2004 and 2010, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 33, 599-613.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-015-5046-2
    [13] CAO Xi, CHEN Shangfeng, CHEN Guanghua, CHEN Wen, WU Renguang, 2015: On the Weakened Relationship between Spring Arctic Oscillation and Following Summer Tropical Cyclone Frequency over the Western North Pacific: A Comparison between 1968-1986 and 1989-2007, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 32, 1319-1328.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-015-4256-y
    [14] HU Ruijin, LIU Qinyu, MENG Xiangfeng, J. Stuart GODFREY, 2005: On the Mechanism of the Seasonal Variability of SST in the Tropical Indian Ocean, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 22, 451-462.  doi: 10.1007/BF02918758
    [15] FAN Lei, Zhengyu LIU, LIU Qinyu, 2011: Robust GEFA Assessment of Climate Feedback to SST EOF Modes, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 28, 907-912.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-010-0081-5
    [16] FU Jianjian, LI Shuanglin, LUO Dehai, 2009: Impact of Global SST on Decadal Shift of East Asian Summer Climate, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 26, 192-201.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-009-0192-z
    [17] ZHOU Lian-Tong, Chi-Yung TAM, ZHOU Wen, Johnny C. L. CHAN, 2010: Influence of South China Sea SST and the ENSO on Winter Rainfall over South China, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 27, 832-844.  doi: 10.1007/s00376--009-9102-7
    [18] ZHANG Qiong, GUAN Yue, YANG Haijun, 2008: ENSO Amplitude Change in Observation and Coupled Models, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 25, 361-366.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-008-0361-5
    [19] FENG Junqiao, HU Dunxin, YU Lejiang, 2012: Low-Frequency Coupled Atmosphere--Ocean Variability in the Southern Indian Ocean, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 29, 544-560.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-011-1096-2
    [20] FuZuntao, Zhao Qiang, QiaoFangli, Liu Shikuo, 2000: Response of Atmospheric Low-frequency Wave to Oceanic Forcing in the Tropics, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 17, 569-575.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-000-0020-y
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    • Manuscript History

    Manuscript received: 10 September 2007
    Manuscript revised: 10 September 2007
    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

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    Sensitivity of the Upper Ocean Temperature and Circulation in the Equatorial Pacific to Solar Radiation Penetration Due to Phytoplankton

    • 1. State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP)}, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029,State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029,State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100029
    • Manuscript received: 2007-09-10
    • Manuscript revised: 2007-09-10

    Abstract: Solar radiation penetration in the upper ocean is strongly modulated by phytoplankton, which impacts the upper ocean temperature structure, especially in the regions abundant with phytoplankton. In the paper, a new solar radiation penetration scheme, based on the concentration of chlorophyll-a, was introduced into the LASG/IAP (State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics/Institute of Atmospheric Physics) Climate system Ocean Model (LICOM). By comparing the simulations using this new scheme with those using the old scheme that included the constant e-folding attenuation depths in LICOM, it was found that the sea surface temperature (SST) and circulation in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were both sensitive to the amount of phytoplankton present. Distinct from other regions, the increase of chlorophyll-a concentration would lead to SST decrease in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. The higher chlorophyll-a concentration at the equator in comparison to the off-equator regions can enlarge the subsurface temperature gradient, which in turn strengthens the upper current near the equator and induces an enhancing upwelling. The enhancing upwelling can then lead to a decrease in the SST in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. The results of these two sensitive experiments testify to the fact that the meridional gradient in the chlorophyll-a concentration can result in an enhancement in the upper current and a decrease in the SST, along with the observation that a high chlorophyll-a concentration at the equator is one of the predominant reasons leading to a decrease in the SST. This study points out that these results can be qualitatively different simply because of the choice of the solar radiation penetration schemes for comparison. This can help explain previously reported contradictory conclusions.

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