Intensification and variability of the confluence of subtropical and subantarctic boundary currents east of New Zealand

Fernandez, Denise; Bowen, Melissa; Carter, L.

doi:10.1002/2013jc009153

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Fernandez et al (2014) studied the confluence of the STF and SAF east of New Zealand using a 20-year time series of satellitederived SSH anomalies to investigate the location Physical oceanography of the deep seas around New Zealand 301 and strength of these fronts. They found a connection between the intensification of the confluence and South Pacific winds, but little change in frontal location north of Bollons Seamount, suggesting topographic control on the location of the confluence.…”

Section: Subtropical Frontmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Certainly there have been changes locally; for example, Fernandez et al (2014) of the local fronts and the EKE have increased at a rate of 0.02 cm km −1 and 32 cm 2 s −2 decade −1 , respectively. Sutton & Roemmich (2001) found the interannual mixed layer variability off the northeast of New Zealand is correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and also with interannual terrestrial air temperature and wind measurements from northern New Zealand.…”

Section: Climate Variability and The Oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Physical oceanography of the deep seas around New Zealand: a review

Chiswell

Bostock

Sutton

et al. 2015

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

201

248

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We review the advances made in 'blue water' physical oceanography of the seas around New Zealand since the last major review in 1985. By 1985, a basic description had been made of the circulation around New Zealand. Since then, dramatic increases in data from satellites, hydrographic cruises, surface drifters and profiling floats have improved knowledge on the locations, strengths and variability of the currents, water masses and fronts in the region. We have better estimates of the surface and deep circulation, and a better understanding of the dynamical processes driving this circulation and its variability. This review covers the open ocean, including water masses, ocean currents, tides and numerical modelling, and discusses the future of New Zealand oceanography.

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Section: Subtropical Frontmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Climate Variability and The Oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical oceanography of the deep seas around New Zealand: a review

Chiswell

Bostock

Sutton

et al. 2015

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

201

248

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show abstract

“…The TF extends across the Tasman Sea with part of the flow continuing into the Pacific and a portion reattaching to the northern end of New Zealand as the EAUC (Figure ) and a sequence of semi‐permanent eddies along the east coast of the New Zealand Islands [e.g., Tilburg et al ., ]. The EAUC finally converges with the subtropical front and both currents turn eastward in a confluence region [Figure ; Fernandez et al ., ]. The TF transport through the Norfolk gaps (on Figure ) was estimated at 6 ± 4 Sv in the upper 800 m, overlying 2 ± 2 Sv of westward flowing AAIW [ Sutton and Bowen , ].…”

Section: Scientific Advancementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Southwest Pacific Ocean circulation and climate experiment (SPICE)

Ganachaud

Cravatte

Melet

et al. 2014

J. Geophys. Res. Oceans

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122

110

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The Southwest Pacific Ocean Circulation and Climate Experiment (SPICE) is an international research program under the auspices of CLIVAR. The key objectives are to understand the Southwest Pacific Ocean circulation and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) dynamics, as well as their influence on regional and basin-scale climate patterns. South Pacific thermocline waters are transported in the westward flowing South Equatorial Current (SEC) toward Australia and Papua-New Guinea. On its way, the SEC encounters the numerous islands and straits of the Southwest Pacific and forms boundary currents and jets that eventually redistribute water to the equator and high latitudes. The transit in the Coral, Solomon, and Tasman Seas is of great importance to the climate system because changes in either the temperature or the amount of water arriving at the equator have the capability to modulate the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, while the southward transports influence the climate and biodiversity in the Tasman Sea. After 7 years of substantial in situ oceanic observational and modeling efforts, our understanding of the region has much improved. We have a refined description of the SPCZ behavior, boundary currents, pathways, and water mass transformation, including the previously undocumented Solomon Sea. The transports are large and vary substantially in a counter-intuitive way, with asymmetries and gating effects that depend on time scales. This paper provides a review of recent advancements and discusses our current knowledge gaps and important emerging research directions.

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“…Large gradients in salinity and temperature observed in the convergence zone (Figures 1, 2) have been associated with considerable eddy activity southeast of NZ (Williams, 2004;Fernandez et al, 2014). South of NZ, the Sub Antarctic Front (SAF), a major front of the ACC system bifurcates into northern (NSAF) and southern (SSAF) branches with the NSAF (∼53 • S) closely following the steep southeastern flank of the Campbell Plateau (CP) and the SSAF (∼58 • S) found over the abyssal plain of the south-west Pacific Basin (Budillon and Rintoul, 2003;Fernandez et al, 2014). Large variability in sea surface salinity south of NZ (Figure 2A) indicates eddies and meanders associated with these fronts in the subantarctic zone lying between the STF and SAF (Budillon and Rintoul, 2003).…”

Section: Surface Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Surface Gradients in Dissolved Organic Matter Absorption and Fluorescence Properties along the New Zealand Sector of the Southern Ocean

D’Sa

Kim

2017

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The Southern Ocean plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle; dissolved organic matter (DOM), a component in the carbon cycling, can be characterized optically. Sea surface chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption and fluorescence properties were examined in the New Zealand sector of the Southern Ocean (NZSSO) along a transect encompassing various hydrographic fronts associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) during summer. Phytoplankton chlorophyll, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and CDOM absorption were observed to be most elevated off the New Zealand shore and then decreased to low values [chlorophyll: 0.21 ± 0.06 mg m −3 ; DOC: 54.19 ± 4.02 µM, and CDOM absorption coefficient at 325 nm (a g 325): 0.097 ± 0.061 m −1 ] between the Subtropical (STF) and Antarctic Polar (APF) Fronts. Increases in phytoplankton biomass and DOC concentrations between the fronts were associated with meanders or eddies observed in satellite sea surface salinity and chlorophyll imagery. Overall, CDOM absorption was the dominant contributor to total absorption at 443 nm with implications for ocean color. Beyond the APF in the Antarctic Zone, an elevated chlorophyll band likely associated with upwelled waters transitioned to low chlorophyll in the summer ice edge zone that influenced DOM optical properties. A latitudinal increase in a g 325 and corresponding decrease in spectral slope S (µm −1 ) poleward from the STF could be due to a combination of factors including, decreasing CDOM photooxidation, upwelling of high-CDOM waters or bacterial CDOM production in the Antarctic Zone. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of fluorescence spectra identified two protein-like (C1 and C2) and two humic-like (C3 and C4) components common in the global ocean. a g 325 and the humic-like C4 fluorescent component were positively correlated to chlorophyll, indicating biological control. Surface distribution of the protein-like C1 and C2 and the marine humic-like C3 components showed patterns that appeared to be influenced by both physical and biological processes. This study provides insights into surface CDOM optical properties and its transformation along a complex topographically influenced sector of the Southern Ocean that could be used to trace changes linked to the meridional overturning circulation.

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Intensification and variability of the confluence of subtropical and subantarctic boundary currents east of New Zealand

Cited by 26 publications

References 55 publications

Physical oceanography of the deep seas around New Zealand: a review

Physical oceanography of the deep seas around New Zealand: a review

The Southwest Pacific Ocean circulation and climate experiment (SPICE)

Surface Gradients in Dissolved Organic Matter Absorption and Fluorescence Properties along the New Zealand Sector of the Southern Ocean

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