Interannual Variability in the Optical Characteristics of the Equatorial Pacific : Consequences for the Upper Ocean Budget.

摘要

[ABSTRACT] The Equatorial Pacific undergoes strong interannual variations In physical dynamics associated with the El Nino/Southern Oscillation. These in turn cause changes in the ecosystem properties; in particular, a large decrease in the surface concentration of chlorophyll is associated with the El Nino phase, particularly in the central to eastern regions. The large decrease renders the waters more optically clear permitting solar energy to penetrate deeper into the water, and causes a redistribution of the irradiance divergence and resulting local heating rates. Along with changes in the surface heat fluxes, the changes in the penetration of solar energy has consequences for the upper ocean heat content, which, in closing the loop, alters the air-sea exchange of heat, moisture, momentum and gases. In this presentation, we will use both in situ optical measurements from cruises spanning 5 years, and satellite ocean color observations from 3 years to evaluate this coupling between physical and biological dynamics in this critically important portion of the worldu27s oceans.