Journal
CLIMATE DYNAMICS
Volume 33, Issue 4, Pages 565-589Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00382-009-0526-7
Keywords
Western tropical Pacific; Warm Pool; Sea surface salinity; Hydrological cycle; Decadal variability; Long-term trend
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Trends in observed sea surface salinity (SSS) and temperature are analyzed for the tropical Pacific during 1955-2003. Since 1955, the western Pacific Warm Pool has significantly warmed and freshened, whereas SSS has been increasing in the western Coral Sea and part of the subtropical ocean. Waters warmer than 28.5A degrees C warmed on average by 0.29A degrees C, and freshened by 0.34 pss per 50 years. Our study also indicates a significant horizontal extension of the warm and fresh surface waters, an expansion of the warm waters volume, and a notable eastward extension of the SSS fronts located on the equator and under the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Mixed layer depth changes examined along 137A degrees E and 165A degrees E are complex, but suggest an increase in the equatorial barrier layer thickness. Our study also reveals consistency between observed SSS trends and a mean hydrological cycle increase inferred from Clausius-Clapeyron scaling, as predicted under global warming scenarios. Possible implications of these changes for ocean-atmosphere interactions and El Nio events are discussed.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available