@article{fdi:010085001,
  title = {{E}quatorward pathways of {S}olomon {S}ea water masses and their modifications},
  author = {{M}elet, {A}. and {V}erron, {J}. and {G}ourdeau, {L}ionel and {K}och {L}arrouy, {A}riane},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {S}olomon {S}ea is a key region of the southwest {P}acific {O}cean, connecting the thermocline subtropics to the equator via western boundary currents ({WBC}s). {M}odifications to water masses are thought to occur in this region because of the significant mixing induced by internal tides, eddies, and the {WBC}s. {D}espite their potential influence on the equatorial {P}acific thermocline temperature and salinity and their related impact on the low-frequency modulation of {E}l {N}ino-{S}outhern {O}scillation, modifications to water masses in the {S}olomon {S}ea have never been analyzed to our knowledge. {A} high-resolution model incorporating a tidal mixing parameterization was implemented to depict and analyze water mass modifications and the {S}olomon {S}ea pathways to the equator in a {L}agrangian quantitative framework. {T}he main routes from the {S}olomon {S}ea to the equatorial {P}acific occur through the {V}itiaz and {S}olomon straits, in the thermocline and intermediate layers, and mainly originate from the {S}olomon {S}ea south inflow and from the {S}olomon {S}trait itself. {W}ater mass modifications in the model are characterized by a reduction of the vertical temperature and salinity gradients over the water column: the high salinity of upper thermocline water [{S}ubtropical {M}ode {W}ater ({STMW})] is eroded and exported toward surface and deeper layers, whereas a downward heat transfer occurs over the water column. {C}onsequently, the thermocline water temperature is cooled by 0.15 degrees-0.3 degrees {C} from the {S}olomon {S}ea inflows to the equatorward outflows. {T}his temperature modification could weaken the {STMW} anomalies advected by the subtropical cell and thereby diminish the potential influence of these anomalies on the tropical climate. {T}he {S}olomon {S}ea water mass modifications can be partially explained (approximate to 60%) by strong diapycnal mixing in the {S}olomon {S}ea. {A}s for {STMW}, about a third of this mixing is due to tidal mixing.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {P}hysical {O}ceanography},
  volume = {41},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {810--826},
  ISSN = {0022-3670},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1175/2010jpo4559.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010085001},
}