Sea Surface Temperature and Ocean Heat Content during Tropical Cyclones Pam (2015) and Winston (2016) in the Southwest Pacific Region

Author:

Chandra Ashneel123,Kumar Sushil3

Affiliation:

1. a Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

2. b Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway

3. c School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

Abstract

AbstractThe sea surface temperature (SST) and upper-ocean heat content (OHC) have been explored along the track of two tropical cyclones (TCs): TC Pam (2015) and TC Winston (2016). These TCs severely affected the islands of Vanuatu and Fiji, in the South Pacific region (8°–30°S, 140°E−170°W). The SST decreased by as much as 5.4°C along the tracks of the TCs with most cooling occurring to the left of the TCs tracks relative to TC motion. SST cooling of 1°–5°C has generally been observed during both the forced and relaxation stages of TC passage. Argo profiles near the TCs revealed observable temperature-based mixed layer deepening. Subsurface warming was also observed post-TC passage from the temperature profile of one of the floats after the passage of both TCs. The OHC and heat fluxes are seen to play an important part in TC intensification as both these TCs intensified after passing over regions of high OHC and enhanced heat fluxes. Apart from the traditionally used OHC obtained up to the depth of the 26°C isotherm (QH), the OHC was also determined up to the depth of the 20°C isotherm (QH,20). The QH and QH,20 values decreased in the majority of cases post TC passage while QH,20 increased in one instance post-TC passage for both the TCs. QH,20 was also used to identify heat energy changes at deeper levels and it correlated well with the traditionally used OHC during the weaker stages of the TCs.

Funder

The University of the South Pacific

Publisher

American Meteorological Society

Subject

Atmospheric Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3