Inferring the linkage of sea surface height anomalies, surface wind stress and sea surface temperature with the falling ice radiative effects using satellite data and global climate models

This study attempts to infer the linkage of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), surface wind stress and sea surface temperature with the falling ice (snow) radiative effects (FIREs) over the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean using CESM1-CAM5 sensitivity experiments with FIREs-off (NOS) and on (SON) under CMIP5 historical run. The obs4MIPs monthly SSH data based upon satellite measurements are used as a reference. The seasonal and annual mean spatial patterns of SSHA difference between NOS and SON are tightly linked to those of SST and TAU over the study domain, in particular, over the south Pacific. Compared with NOS, SON simulates improved seasonal and annual mean SSHA associated with improved sea surface temperature (SST), surface wind stress (TAU) over the trade-wind areas. In SON, the simulated mean absolute bias of SSHA over the study domain is reduced (up to 30%) against NOS relative to observations. The SSHA biases are then compared with CMIP5 models. Despite the biases of SST and SSHA over the south and north flanks of the equator in SON, the seasonal variations of improved SSHA are closely related to those of TAU and SST resulting from the FIREs; that is, higher SSHA is associated with weaker TAU and warmer SST changes and vice versa. The CMIP5 ensemble mean absolute biases of SSHA show similarities to NOS mainly over the south Pacific.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), surface wind stress, sea surface temperature and falling ice (snow) radiative effects (FIREs) over the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean. The results show that activating FIREs can improve seasonal and annual mean SSHA.