ISSN 1006-9895

CN 11-1768/O4

Ocean-to-Atmosphere Forcing in the Vicinity of the Sea Surface Temperature Front in the East China Sea—Seasonal Variations
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    Abstract:

    A suite of high-resolution satellite measurements are used to investigate local atmospheric response to a sea surface temperature (SST) front over the East China Sea and its seasonal variation. The analyses reveal a significant in-phase relationship between SST and 10-m neutral wind velocity, accompanied by convergence (divergence) on the warmer (colder) flank of the front during spring time when the oceanic front is intensified, indicative of ocean-to-atmosphere influences. The extent of the influence on near surface wind field by SST is proportional to the strength of the SST front with its maximum in spring and minimum in summer and autumn. The satellite observations detect direct responses of total, convective, and stratiform precipitation to the Kuroshio front. Especially in spring and early summer, enhanced rainfall and the frequent occurrence of convective precipitation are collocated on the warmer flank of the SST front. Furthermore, considerable increase in the cloud top height is observed across the front from cold to warm water. The distribution and structure of precipitation suggest that the influence of warm ocean current in the East China Sea penetrates above the MABL (Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer) to reach the entire troposphere. The results also show that convective precipitation is more sensitive to SST variation than stratiform precipitation. High and low clouds over the Kuroshio Current exhibit opposite annual cycle, low clouds ranging from 0.5-2 km prevail in winter, while high clouds with the cloud base above 10 km dominate in summer. The area with cloud amount larger than 30% is elevated by nearly 8 km from winter to early summer. Deep convective clouds mainly concentrate during March to June, indicating that deep convection frequently occurs on the warmer flank of the SST front in spring and early summer.

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History
  • Received:June 13,2011
  • Revised:November 18,2011
  • Adopted:
  • Online: April 28,2012
  • Published: