Journal of Geophysical Research, 1993,
98 (C9), p. 16,379-16,385 ISSN 0148-0227
In February-April 1991, episodes of 2 to 8 m s-1 westerly winds of 3 to 11 days' duration occurred in the Western Pacific warm pool. Resulting modifications of the upper ocean in current and hydrology are quantified using data from an equatorial mooring at 165°E and from three cruises within 30 days of one another along 165°E. During westerly wind bursts (WWB) stronger tha m s-1, the upper 50 m becomes isothermal to within O.1°C and sea surface temperature (SST) drops by 0.3.-0.4°C between 5°S and 2.5°N. Conversely, STT starts warming and the upper 50 m restratifies in 4-5 days after the end of WWB. In contrasts to previous observations, salinity between 0 and 50 m appears almost unaffected by WWB; it freshens by 0.4 practical salinity unit in March within an area of 1°-2° of latitude aroud the equator but not necessarily in direct response to WWB. As for zonal circulation, surface equatorial flow accelerates eastward jets both develop from 2°N to 2°S in the upper and lower halves of the temperature mixed layer, respectively. Changes in zonal mass transport in this layer were as much as 30 Sv between 2.5°S and 2.5°N from one cruise to the next. (Résumé d'auteur)
Plan de classement
Dynamique des eaux [032DYNEAU]
Descripteurs
INTERACTION OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ; VENT ; CIRCULATION OCEANIQUE ; MASSE D'EAU ; CIRCULATION ZONALE ; HYDROLOGIE MARINE ; ANALYSE DE DONNEES ; TEMPERATURE DE SURFACE ; SALINITE ; ALIZE
