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Overturning circulation that ventilates the intermediate layer of the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific: The role of salinity advection

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Title: Overturning circulation that ventilates the intermediate layer of the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific: The role of salinity advection
Authors: Matsuda, Junji Browse this author
Mitsudera, Humio Browse this author →KAKEN DB
Nakamura, Tomohiro Browse this author →KAKEN DB
Sasajima, Yuichiro Browse this author
Hasumi, Hiroyasu Browse this author
Wakatsuchi, Masaaki Browse this author →KAKEN DB
Keywords: overturning circulation
salinity advection
Sea of Okhotsk
wind stress
high‐resolution modeling
Issue Date: 21-Jan-2015
Publisher: American Geophysical Union 
Journal Title: Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Volume: 120
Issue: 3
Start Page: 1462
End Page: 1489
Publisher DOI: 10.1002/2014JC009995
Abstract: Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formation in the northwestern continental shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk is the beginning of the lower limb of the overturning circulation that ventilates the intermediate layer of the North Pacific Ocean. The upper limb consisting of surface currents in the Okhotsk Sea and the subarctic gyre has not been clarified. Using a high‐resolution North Pacific Ocean model with a curvilinear grid as fine as 3 km × 3 km in the Sea of Okhotsk, we succeeded in representing the three‐dimensional structure of the overturning circulation including the narrow boundary currents and flows through straits that constitute the upper limb, as well as the lower limb consisting of DSW formation and ventilation. In particular, pathways and time scales from the Bering Sea to the intermediate layer via the ventilation in the Sea of Okhotsk were examined in detail using tracer experiments. Further, we found that the overturning circulation that connects the surface and intermediate layer is sensitive to wind stress. In the case of strong winds, the coastal current under polynyas where DSW forms is intensified, and consequently diapycnal transport from the surface layer to the intermediate layer increases. Strong winds also induce a positive sea surface salinity anomaly in the subarctic region, causing a significant decrease in the density stratification and increase in the DSW salinity (i.e., density). These processes act together to produce intense overturning circulation and deep ventilation, which may subduct even to the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk if the wind is strong.
Rights: © 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Type: article
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/80686
Appears in Collections:低温科学研究所 (Institute of Low Temperature Science) > 雑誌発表論文等 (Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc)

Submitter: 中村 知裕

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