HR: 14:10h
AN: A53B-03    [Abstracts]
TI: The Effect of Turning Cross-equatorial Winds on the Meridional Upper-ocean Circulation
AU: * de Szoeke, S P
EM: deszoeke@hawaii.edu
AF: International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii 410 POST Bldg. 2525 Correa Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Xie, S
EM: xie@hawaii.edu
AF: International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii 410 POST Bldg. 2525 Correa Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Small, R J
EM: small@hawaii.edu
AF: International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii 410 POST Bldg. 2525 Correa Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AB: A simple one-dimensional model forced by realistic winds is proposed to explain the meridional circulation in the upper ocean. Convergence of the Ekman transport at 5° N is explained by the westward turning of the southeasterly cross-equatorial wind. A sharp front in the sea surface temperature (SST) forms considerably south of the maximum Ekman convergence. A coupled ocean-atmosphere model of the eastern Pacific shows that geostrophic equatorward flow at 3° N is part of the mixed layer, thereby enhancing the convergence and advecting the SST front toward the equator. The meridional profile of turbulent heat flux to the atmosphere acts to weaken the SST front. The surface heat flux is decomposed into a component governed only by the varying SST, and a component that depends---through air-sea temperature difference, wind speed, relative humidity, and clouds---on the atmospheric response to the varying SST.
DE: 3307 Boundary layer processes
DE: 3339 Ocean/atmosphere interactions (0312, 4504)
DE: 4512 Currents
DE: 4528 Fronts and jets
DE: 4572 Upper ocean and mixed layer processes
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005