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The 1997-1999 Abrupt Change of the Upper Ocean Temperature in the North Central PacificThe abrupt warming of the north central Pacific Ocean from 1997 to 1999 is studied using an ocean data assimilation product. During this period, the average mixed-layer temperature in the region of 170-210(deg)E, 25-40(deg)N rises by 1.8 K. The major contributors to the warming are surface heat flux (1.3 K), geostrophic advection (0.7 K), and entrainment (0.7 K). For the geostrophic advection, the contributions by the zonal, meridional, and vertical components are 0.4, -0.1 and 0.3 K, respectively. Mixing and meridional Ekman advection have cooling effect. The significance of the geostrophic advection indicates the importance of ocean dynamics in controlling the abrupt warming tendency during the 1997-99 period and the inadequacy of a slab-mixed-layer model in simulating such warming tendency.
Document ID
20070035973
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kim, Seung-Bum
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Lee, Tong
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Fukumori, Ichiro
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
November 11, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 31
Subject Category
Oceanography
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
climate
ocean modeling
interannual variability
upper ocean processes
North Pacific variability

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