Observations reveal vertical transport induced by submesoscale front.

ABSTRACT: Submesoscale fronts, with horizontal scale of 0.1-10 km, are key components of climate system by driving intense vertical transports of heat, salt and nutrients in the ocean. However, our knowledge on how large the vertical transport driven by one single submesoscale front can reach remains limited due to the lack of comprehensive field observations. Here, based on high-resolution in situ observations in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension region, we detect an exceptionally sharp submesoscale front. The oceanic temperature (salinity) changes sharply from 14 °C (34.55 psu) to 2 °C (32.7 psu) within 2 km across the front from south to north. Analysis reveals intense vertical velocities near the front reaching 170 m day^-1, along with upward heat transport up to 1.4 × 10^-2 °C 

SUBMITTER: Zhu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10883923 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature