Observational Evidence of Frontal-Scale Atmospheric Responses to Kuroshio Extension Variability

This study investigates the regional atmospheric response to the Kuroshio Extension (KE) using a combination of multiple satellite observations and reanalysis data from boreal winter over a period of at least a decade. The goal is to understand the relationship between KE variations and atmospheric...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of climate 2015-12, Vol.28 (23), p.9459-9472
Main Authors: Wang, Yi-Hui, Liu, W. Timothy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air
Air pressure
Air temperature
Atmosphere
Atmospherics
Brackish
Climatic indexes
Dynamic height
Free atmosphere
General circulation models
Geopotential
Geopotential height
Heat
Marine
Meteorology
Observational studies
Ocean currents
Oceans
Precipitation
Rain
Regression analysis
Regression coefficients
Satellite observation
Satellites
Sea surface
Sea surface temperature
SPECIAL Climate and Frontal Air-Sea Interaction COLLECTION
Statistical significance
Studies
Surface temperature
Surface wind
Variability
Vertical velocities
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Summary:This study investigates the regional atmospheric response to the Kuroshio Extension (KE) using a combination of multiple satellite observations and reanalysis data from boreal winter over a period of at least a decade. The goal is to understand the relationship between KE variations and atmospheric responses at low frequencies. A climate index is used to measure the interannual to decadal KE variability, which leaves remarkable imprints on the mesoscale sea surface temperature (SST). Clear spatial coherence between the SST signals and frontal-scale atmospheric variables, including surface wind convergence, vertical velocity, precipitation, and clouds, is identified by linear regression analysis. Consistent with previous studies, the penetrating effect of the KE variability on the free atmosphere is found. The westward tilt of the atmospheric response above the KE near 500 hPa is revealed. The difference in the associations of frontal-scale air temperature and geopotential height with the KE variability between the satellite observations and the reanalysis data suggests an imperfect interpretation of frontal-scale oceanic forcing on the overlying atmosphere in the reanalysis assimilation system.
ISSN:0894-8755
1520-0442
DOI:10.1175/jcli-d-14-00829.1