HR: 0800h
AN: OS31A-0562    [Abstracts]
TI: Interannual Variability in Upper-Ocean Heat Content, Temperature and Thermosteric Expansion on Global Scales
AU: * Willis, J K
EM: joshua.k.willis@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M/S 300-323 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Roemmich, D
EM: droemmich@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Mail Code: 0230 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0230 United States
AU: Cornuelle, B D
EM: bdc@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Mail Code: 0230 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0230 United States
AB: Satellite altimetric height was combined with approximately 1,000,000 in situ temperature profiles to produce global estimates of upper-ocean heat content, temperature and thermosteric sea-level variability on interannual time scales. Maps of these quantities from mid-1993 through mid-2003 were calculated using the technique developed by {\it Willis et al.} [2003]. The time series of globally averaged heat content contains some interannual variability and implies an oceanic warming rate of 0.86 $\pm$ 0.12 Watts per square meter of ocean (0.29 $\pm$ 0.04 pW) from 1993 to 2003 for the upper 750 m of the water column. As a result of the warming, thermosteric sea level rose at a rate of 1.6 $\pm$ 0.3 mm/yr over the same time period. Maps of yearly heat content anomaly show patterns of warming commensurate with ENSO variability in the tropics, but also show that a large part of the trend in global, oceanic heat content is caused by regional warming at mid-latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. In addition to quantifying interannual variability on a global scale, this work illustrates the importance of maintaining continuously updated monitoring systems that provide global coverage of the worlds oceans. Ongoing projects, such as the Jason/TOPEX series of satellite altimeters and the Argo float program provide a critical foundation for characterizing variability on regional, basin, and global scales and quantifying the ocean's role as part of the climate system.
DE: 4215 Climate and interannual variability (3309)
DE: 4504 Air/sea interactions (0312)
DE: 4556 Sea level variations
DE: 1635 Oceans (4203)
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting