On the Coupling of Wind Stress and Sea Surface Temperature

Abstract

Abstract A simple quasi-equilibrium analytical model is used to explore hypotheses related to observed spatial correlations between sea surface temperatures and wind stress on horizontal scales of 50–500 km. It is argued that a plausible contributor to the observed correlations is the approximate linear relationship between the surface wind stress and stress boundary layer depth under conditions in which the stress boundary layer has come into approximate equilibrium with steady free-atmospheric forcing. Warmer sea surface temperature is associated with deeper boundary layers and stronger wind stress, while colder temperature is associated with shallower boundary layers and weaker wind stress. Two interpretations of a previous hypothesis involving the downward mixing of horizontal momentum are discussed, and it is argued that neither is appropriate for the warm-to-cold transition or quasi-equilibrium conditions, while one may be appropriate for the cold-to-warm transition. Solutions of a turbulent large-eddy simulation numerical model illustrate some of the processes represented in the analytical model. A dimensionless ratio γτA is introduced to measure the relative influence of lateral momentum advection and local surface stress on the boundary layer wind profile. It is argued that when γτA < 1, and under conditions in which the thermodynamically induced lateral pressure gradients are small, the boundary layer depth effect will dominate lateral advection and control the surface stress.