@article{fdi:010061581,
  title = {{S}easonal variations of the upper ocean salinity stratification in the {T}ropics},
  author = {{M}aes, {C}hristophe and {O}'{K}ane, {T}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n comparison to the deep ocean, the upper mixed layer is a region typically characterized by substantial vertical gradients in water properties. {W}ithin the {T}ropics, the rich variability in the vertical shapes and forms that these structures can assume through variation in the atmospheric forcing results in a differential effect in terms of the temperature and salinity stratification. {R}ather than focusing on the strong halocline above the thermocline, commonly referred to as the salinity barrier layer, the present study takes into account the respective thermal and saline dependencies in the {B}runt-{V}€ais€al€a frequency ({N}2) in order to isolate the specific role of the salinity stratification in the layers above the main pycnocline. {W}e examine daily vertical profiles of temperature and salinity from an ocean reanalysis over the period 2001–2007. {W}e find significant seasonal variations in the {B}runt-{V}€ais€al€a frequency profiles are limited to the upper 300 m depth. {B}ased on this, we determine the ocean salinity stratification ({OSS}) to be defined as the stabilizing effect (positive values) due to the haline part of {N}2 averaged over the upper 300 m. {I}n many regions of the tropics, the {OSS} contributes 40–50% to {N}2 as compared to the thermal stratification and, in some specific regions, exceeds it for a few months of the seasonal cycle. {A}way from the tropics, for example, near the centers of action of the subtropical gyres, there are regions characterized by the permanent absence of {OSS}. {I}n other regions previously characterized with salinity barrier layers, the {OSS} obviously shares some common variations; however, we show that where temperature and salinity are mixed over the same depth, the salinity stratification can be significant. {I}n addition, relationships between the {OSS} and the sea surface salinity are shown to be well defined and quasilinear in the tropics, providing some indication that in the future, analyses that consider both satellite surface salinity measurements at the surface and vertical profiles at depth will result in a better determination of the role of the salinity stratification in climate prediction systems.},
  keywords = {{INTERACTION} {OCEAN} {ATMOSPHERE} ; {SALINITE} ; {STRATIFICATION} ; {TEMPERATURE} {DE} {SURFACE} ; {METHODE} {D}'{ANALYSE} ; {PROFIL} {VERTICAL} ; {VARIATION} {SAISONNIERE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch. {O}ceans},
  volume = {119},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {1706--1722},
  ISSN = {2169-9275},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1002/2013{JC}009366},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061581},
}