Ocean fronts and eddies force atmospheric rivers and heavy precipitation in western North America

Liu, Xue; Ma, Xiaoyan; Chang, Ping; Jia, Yunfeng; Fu, Dan; Xu, Guangzhi; Wu, Lixin; Saravanan, R.; Patricola, Christina M.

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21504-w

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…As ubiquitous phenomena in the global ocean, mesoscale eddies play an essential role in ocean dynamics (e.g., Gaube et al., 2019; Huang et al., 2018) and tracer transports (e.g., Dong et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014). They also exert pronounced influences on the local (e.g., Frenger et al., 2013; X. Liu et al., 2018) and global climate (e.g., Ma et al., 2016; X. Liu et al., 2021). Realistic simulation of mesoscale eddies is proven to be crucial in improving the re‐productivity of the observed large‐scale circulation (e.g., Chassignet et al., 2020; Hirschi et al., 2020; Roberts et al., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overestimated Eddy Kinetic Energy in the Eddy‐Rich Regions Simulated by Eddy‐Resolving Global Ocean–Sea Ice Models

Ding

Liu

Lin

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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The performance of eddy‐resolving global ocean–sea ice models in simulating mesoscale eddies is evaluated using six eddy‐resolving experiments forced by different atmospheric reanalysis products. Interestingly, eddy‐resolving ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) tend to simulate more (less) energetic eddy‐rich (eddy‐poor) regions with a smaller (larger) spatial extent than satellite observation, which finally shows that larger (smaller) mesoscale energy intensity (EI) is simulated in the eddy‐rich (eddy‐poor) regions. Quantitatively, there is an approximately 27%–60% overestimation of EI in the eddy‐rich regions, which are mainly located in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension, the Gulf Stream, and the Antarctic Circumpolar Currents regions, although the global mean EI is underestimated by 25%–45%. Apparently, the eddy kinetic energy in the eddy‐poor region is underestimated. Further analyses based on coherent mesoscale eddy properties show that the overestimation in the eddy‐rich regions is mainly attributed to mesoscale eddies’ intensity and is more prominent when mesoscale eddies are in their growth stage.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overestimated Eddy Kinetic Energy in the Eddy‐Rich Regions Simulated by Eddy‐Resolving Global Ocean–Sea Ice Models

Ding

Liu

Lin

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Foussard, Lapeyre, and Riwal (2019), using an atmosphere-only model, showed that the latent heat release driven by mesoscale SST anomalies leads to a poleward shift of atmospheric storm tracks by up to 1,000 km. Ma et al (2015) and Liu et al (2021) pointed out that, through these processes, mesoscale eddies in the Kuroshio Extension have a remote influence on the rainfall over the West Coast of the U.S.. These studies did not include the impact of sharp SST fronts at submesoscales.…”

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confidence: 99%

Local Air‐Sea Interactions at Ocean Mesoscale and Submesoscale in a Western Boundary Current

Strobach

Klein

Molod

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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We present results from a new, global, high‐resolution (∼3‐km for ocean and ∼6‐km for atmosphere) realistic earth system simulation. This simulation allows us to examine aspects of small‐scale air‐sea interaction beyond what previous studies have reported. Our study focuses on recurring intermittent wind events in the Gulf Stream region. These events induce local air‐sea heat fluxes above Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies with horizontal scales smaller than 500‐km. In particular, strong latent heat bursts above warm SST anomalies are observed during these wind events. We show that such wind events are associated with a secondary circulation that acts to fuel the latent heat bursts by transferring dry air and momentum down to the surface. The intensity of this secondary circulation is related to the strength of small‐scale SST fronts that border SST anomalies. The study of such phenomena requires high‐resolution in both the atmospheric and oceanic components of the model.

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“…Existing analyses based on sounding data are spatially confined to the near‐coastal regions of the northeastern Pacific and cannot support a full life cycle analysis on long‐lived ARs originated from the western Pacific. This may imply a big limitation of this approach, considering that many of the North America landfalling ARs are originated from the Kuroshio Extension region (Liu et al., 2021). The relative roles played by large‐scale geostrophic processes and the ageostrophic, secondary frontal circulation cannot be revealed using sounding data alone (Ralph et al., 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the Understanding of Atmospheric River Water Vapor Transport Using a Three‐Dimensional Straightened Composite Analysis

Wang

Chang

et al. 2022

JGR Atmospheres

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Irregular shapes of atmospheric rivers (ARs) hamper easy AR composite analyses and understandings of AR's moisture transport mechanisms. We develop a method to composite AR‐related variables from a reanalysis data set. By averaging a large number of samples, the three‐dimensional structure and some evolutionary features of a typical North Pacific AR are revealed. An AR is typically located along and in advance of the surface cold front of an extratropical cyclone. A mesoscale secondary circulation is observed in the cross sections of the AR corridor, where both geostrophic and ageostrophic winds make indispensable contributions to the moisture fluxes. Geostrophic moisture advection across the cold front within the Equatorward half of the AR is created by baroclinicity of the system and serves as the primary moisture source for the AR. Moisture fluxes from the warm sector of the cyclone are primarily due to boundary layer ageostrophic winds and are more important within the poleward half of the AR, particularly during the genesis stage. Faster AR movement compared with low‐level winds enables the AR to collect downwind moisture. In an AR‐relative view, this is represented as an easterly flow, consistent with the “feeder‐airstream” concept, and emphasizes the role of local moisture recycling. Moisture transport within the Equatorward half is mostly due to geostrophic advection of the propagating AR‐cyclone couple in an Earth‐relative view. Driven by intensifying geostrophic winds, ARs tend to reach peak moisture transport intensity about 2 days after genesis. Then, reduced moisture level and influxes from lateral boundaries prevent further intensification.

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Ocean fronts and eddies force atmospheric rivers and heavy precipitation in western North America

Cited by 31 publications

References 64 publications

Overestimated Eddy Kinetic Energy in the Eddy‐Rich Regions Simulated by Eddy‐Resolving Global Ocean–Sea Ice Models

Overestimated Eddy Kinetic Energy in the Eddy‐Rich Regions Simulated by Eddy‐Resolving Global Ocean–Sea Ice Models

Local Air‐Sea Interactions at Ocean Mesoscale and Submesoscale in a Western Boundary Current

Improving the Understanding of Atmospheric River Water Vapor Transport Using a Three‐Dimensional Straightened Composite Analysis

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