Ocean Responses to Typhoon Namtheun Explored with Argo Floats and Multiplatform Satellites

Abstract

Argo salinity and temperature profiles, along with other sea surface measurements, were used to explore the impacts of Typhoon Namtheun (2004) on the ocean. Namtheun took local enthalpy heat from the sea (0.39-0.7 × 10 8 J m −2 ), cooled the sea surface water as a result of vertical mixing (maximum 3-4°C) and produced heavy precipitation over the sea (100-180 mm). During this time, the vast latent heat released (2.6-4.4 × 10 8 J m −2 ) by the precipitation made a larger contribution to the typhoon's energy budget than the local air-sea enthalpy flux. In the upper ocean, the oceanic responses can be separated into two sub-processes, the fast spin-up accompanied by one-dimensional vertical mixing and the slow spin-down accompanied by the convergence of surface water. From Argo profiles on 28 July, it can be seen that the typhoon-induced surface mixing broke down the seasonal thermocline (approximately 20 db) within one day. In addition, the shallower (<200 db) convergence of the sea surface fresh water as a result of precipitation also made the post-typhoon water fresher (0.04 (practical salinity scale used)). In the deep ocean, the rapid upwelling at the top of the permanent thermocline suggests that the fast spin-up is a barotropic mechanism, probably gravity pressure. During the slow spin-down stage, the upwelling signal propagated downward (approximately 2 m h −1 ) from the shallow water to the deep ocean for about 10 days; this was a baroclinic process. The baroclinic mechanism was more effective in maintaining a cyclonic eddy than in maintaining an inertial wave, and the low sea surface height anomaly and upwelling lasted much longer than the inertial oscillation (>20 days as opposed to approximately 10 days). This change in vertical structure and long-term upwelling could have impacts on the ocean environment and even on the short-term climate.RÉSUMÉ [Traduit par la rédaction] Nous nous sommes servis des profils de salinité et de température Argo, de pair avec d'autres mesures de la surface de la mer, pour explorer les répercussions du typhon Namtheun (2004) sur l'océan. Namtheun a pris de la chaleur enthalpique locale de la mer (0.39-0.7 × 10 8 J m −2 ), a refroidi l'eau de la surface de la mer par suite d'un mélange vertical (maximum 3°-4°C) et a produit de fortes précipitations au-dessus de la mer (100-180 mm). Durant ce temps, l'importante quantité de chaleur latente (2.6-4.4 × 10 8 J m −2 ) relâchée par les précipitations a apporté une plus grande contribution au bilan énergétique du typhon que le flux enthalpique air-mer local. Dans la couche supérieure de l'océan, les réponses océaniques peuvent être divisées en deux sous-processus, la surgyration rapide accompagnée d'un mélange vertical unidimensionnel et la dégyration lente accompagnée de la convergence d'eau de surface. Sur les profils Argo du 28 juillet, on peut voir que le mélange en surface produit par le typhon a brisé la thermocline saisonnière (approximativement 20 db) à l'intérieur d'une journée. De plus, la convergence moins profo...

The responses of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies to typhoon forcing: The vertical temperature‐salinity structure changes associated with the horizontal convergence/divergence

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