In the Ross and Weddell Seas, interactions between atmosphere and ocean are strongly influenced by the presence or absence of the ice cover, hindering sensible heat fluxes and preventing latent heat loss. In the first step, a new algorithm was implemented to estimate the sea ice and snow thickness from SSM/I brightness temperature in the Ross and Weddell Seas. Results show that in the Ross Sea the mean value of ice thickness (70 cm) is about 10 cm greater than in the Weddell Sea. Then we analyze the heat budget estimated using ERA-40 re-analysis and operational data provided by the ECMWF. By integrating the surface heat fluxes over the studied areas we obtained monthly and yearly means. During the available period, in the Ross Sea, the heat loss reaches its maximum in 1989 (-130 Wm-2) and its minimum (-86 Wm-2) in 1980. In the Weddell Sea the heat loss reaches its maximum in 1979 (-122 Wm-2) and its minimum (-91 Wm-2) in 1989. The studied areas show synchronous or opposite variations depending on the period. Explanation of this behaviour is linked to the signature of global climate variability expressed by ENSO, SAM and ACW.
Surface heat fluxes and global climate variability in the Ross and Weddell Seas / Fusco, Giannetta; Aulicino, G.; Budillon, G.; Cotroneo, Y.; Peluso, T.; Spezie, G.. - (2008). (Intervento presentato al convegno SCAR/IASC IPY open science conference tenutosi a St. Petersburg, Russian Federation nel July 8-11, 2008).
Surface heat fluxes and global climate variability in the Ross and Weddell Seas
G. Aulicino;
2008-01-01
Abstract
In the Ross and Weddell Seas, interactions between atmosphere and ocean are strongly influenced by the presence or absence of the ice cover, hindering sensible heat fluxes and preventing latent heat loss. In the first step, a new algorithm was implemented to estimate the sea ice and snow thickness from SSM/I brightness temperature in the Ross and Weddell Seas. Results show that in the Ross Sea the mean value of ice thickness (70 cm) is about 10 cm greater than in the Weddell Sea. Then we analyze the heat budget estimated using ERA-40 re-analysis and operational data provided by the ECMWF. By integrating the surface heat fluxes over the studied areas we obtained monthly and yearly means. During the available period, in the Ross Sea, the heat loss reaches its maximum in 1989 (-130 Wm-2) and its minimum (-86 Wm-2) in 1980. In the Weddell Sea the heat loss reaches its maximum in 1979 (-122 Wm-2) and its minimum (-91 Wm-2) in 1989. The studied areas show synchronous or opposite variations depending on the period. Explanation of this behaviour is linked to the signature of global climate variability expressed by ENSO, SAM and ACW.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
