Mean structure of the North Atlantic subtropical permanent pycnocline from in-situ observations

Type Article
Date 2016-06
Language English
Author(s) Feucher CharleneORCID1, Maze GuillaumeORCID1, Mercier HerleORCID2
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Lab Oceanog Phys & Spatiale, CS 10070, Plouzane, France.
2 : CNRS, Lab Oceanog Phys & Spatiale, Plouzane, France.
Source Journal Of Atmospheric And Oceanic Technology (0739-0572) (Amer Meteorological Soc), 2016-06 , Vol. 33 , N. 6 , P. 1285-1308
DOI 10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0192.1
WOS© Times Cited 10
Abstract A new Objective Algorithm for the Characterization of the permanent Pycnocline (OACP) in subtropical gyres is proposed. OAC-P is based on a pragmatic analysis of vertical density gradient features to identify the permanent pycnocline: OAC-P identifies the permanent pycnocline as the stratified layer found below surface mode waters. OAC-P provides the permanent pycnocline depth, unequivocally associated with a local maximum in the stratification, and top and bottom thicknesses, associated with upward and downward decreases in stratification. OAC-P uses half Gaussian curves as asymmetric non-linear analytical models of the stratification peak. It is the first time that an algorithm is proposed to characterize objectively the permanent pycnocline for a region where handling the stronger stratification peak of the seasonal pycnocline is complex. A guideline for how-to implement OAC-P is given, with application to the North Atlantic Ocean Argo data as example. OAC-P provides a detailed description of the mean structure of the North Atlantic subtropical permanent pycnocline. OAC-P detects a permanent pycnocline throughout the subtropical gyre north of the North Equatorial Current. The large scale description of the permanent pycnocline depth structure as a classic bowl shape is captured however with much more details. New regional information is provided. In particular: (i) there is only one region - the southern recirculation gyre of the Gulf Stream Extension - where the permanent pycnocline is along an isopycnal surface and (ii) vertical asymmetries clearly discriminate one region from another.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 24 4 MB Open access
Top of the page