Sea Surface Temperature, Surface Wind Divergence, and Convection over Tropical Oceans

Graham, Nicholas E.; Barnett, T. P.

doi:10.1126/science.238.4827.657

Cited by 623 publications

(459 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In the central equatorial Indian Ocean where SST is close to the necessary threshold for atmospheric deep convection [e.g., Graham and Barnett, 1987], small variations or errors in SST estimation can lead to large uncertainties in surface heat exchange. A SST change of 1 K in the DYNAMO mooring data could lead to an air-sea heat flux change of 41 to 48 W m 22 .…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The surface mixed layer heat budget from mooring observations in the central Indian Ocean during Madden–Julian Oscillation events

et al. 2014

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The oceanic surface mixed layer heat budget in the central equatorial Indian Ocean is calculated from observations at two mooring sites (0 S 79 E and 1.5 S 79 E) during three active and calm phases of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) events between September 2011 and January 2012. At both mooring locations, the surface mixed layer is generally heated during MJO calm phases. During MJO active phases at both mooring locations, the surface mixed layer is always cooled by the net surface heat flux and also sometimes by the turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the surface mixed layer. The turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the surface mixed layer, however, varies greatly among different MJO active phases and between the two mooring locations. A barrier layer exerts control on the turbulent heat flux at the base of the surface mixed layer; we quantify this barrier layer strength by a ''barrier layer potential energy,'' which depends on the thickness of the barrier layer, the thickness of the surface mixed layer, and the density stratification across the isothermal layer. During one observed MJO active phase, a strong turbulent heat flux into the mixed layer was diagnosed, despite the presence of a 10220 m thick barrier layer. This was due to the strong shear across the barrier layer driven by the westerly winds, which provided sufficient available kinetic energy to erode the barrier layer. To better simulate and predict net surface heat fluxes and the MJO, models must estimate the oceanic barrier layer potential energy, background shear, stratification, and surface forcing accurately.

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Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The surface mixed layer heat budget from mooring observations in the central Indian Ocean during Madden–Julian Oscillation events

et al. 2014

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“…Observations show conflicting relationships between sea surface temperature (SST) and deep convection in the tropics. Gadgil et al [1984] and Graham and Barnett [1987] reported that there is a correlation between the SST variation and cloudiness for the colder oceans, but the correlation does not exist when SST is above 27.5øC over the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Ramanathan and Collins [1991] found the top of the atmosphere and at the surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sea surface temperature and large‐scale dynamics on the thermodynamic equilibrium state and convection over the tropical western Pacific

Wu¹,

Moncrieff²

1999

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. The effects of sea surface temperature (SST) variations and large-scale dynamics on the cloud feedback and water vapor feedback are quantified using a finescale numerical model, or cloud-resolving model, in which the cloud-scale dynamics is explicitly treated instead of being parameterized as is necessary in a general circulation model. The SST variation has large impacts on the water vapor feedback and small impacts on the cloud feedback, radiation budget, and surface energy budget under a given large-scale dynamic state. As the SST gets warmer (increasing 2ø), the warm and moist equilibrium state of temperature and water vapor mixing ratio is obtained; the upper tropospheric relative humidity is enhanced; and the cloud amount and convective intensity are slightly reduced. The cooling (about 10 W m -2) at the surface due to the increase of surface evaporation is almost compensated by the warming at the surface due to the increase of surface shortwave flux, which results in a small increase of net surface heat flux. However, the change of large-scale dynamics has large effects on the cloud feedback, radiation budget, and surface energy budget and small effects on the water vapor feedback under a constant SST. An increased large-scale forcing slightly affects the equilibrium states of temperature and water vapor mixing ratio; the relative humidity is decreased above 10 km and increased below; and the cloud amount and convective intensity are enhanced. Both the variations of SST and large-scale dynamics are positively correlated with the surface precipitation.

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“…A relationship between SST and moist convection (MC) has been pointed out in a large number of studies (e.g., Gadgil et al, 1984;Graham and Barnett, 1987;and Zhang, 1993). Tropical deep convection emerges over SST >_ 28øC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms regulating sea‐surface temperatures and deep convection in the tropics

Sud

Walker

Lau

1999

Geophysical Research Letters

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Sea Surface Temperature, Surface Wind Divergence, and Convection over Tropical Oceans

Cited by 623 publications

References 18 publications

The surface mixed layer heat budget from mooring observations in the central Indian Ocean during Madden–Julian Oscillation events

The surface mixed layer heat budget from mooring observations in the central Indian Ocean during Madden–Julian Oscillation events

Effects of sea surface temperature and large‐scale dynamics on the thermodynamic equilibrium state and convection over the tropical western Pacific

Mechanisms regulating sea‐surface temperatures and deep convection in the tropics

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