Waldman R., Somot S., Herrmann Marine, Sevault F., Isachsen P. E. (2018). On the chaotic variability of deep convection in the Mediterranean Sea. Geophysical Research Letters, 45 (5), p. 2433-2443. ISSN 0094-8276.
Titre du document
On the chaotic variability of deep convection in the Mediterranean Sea
Waldman R., Somot S., Herrmann Marine, Sevault F., Isachsen P. E.
Source
Geophysical Research Letters, 2018,
45 (5), p. 2433-2443 ISSN 0094-8276
Chaotic intrinsic variability is a fundamental driver of the oceanic variability. Its understanding is key to interpret observations, evaluate numerical models, and predict the future ocean and climate. Here we study intrinsic variability of deep convection in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea using an ensemble eddy-resolving hindcast simulation over the period 1979-2013. We find that the variability of deep convection is mostly forced but also, to a considerable extent, intrinsic. The intrinsic variability can dominate the total convection variability locally and over a single winter. It also makes up a significant fraction of its interannual variability but has only modest impacts on the long-term mean state. We find that the occurrence of deep convection is random 18% of years at the basin scale, and 29% locally at the LION observational site. Spatially, the intrinsic variability is highest far from the continental shelf. We relate this pattern to baroclinic instability theory that takes bottom stabilization into account.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
;
Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032]
