American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article (file size: 2002822 bytes)    Cited by

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 31, L04305, doi:10.1029/2003GL019087, 2004

Eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean T-S variations with El Niño

Ou Wang

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Ichiro Fukumori

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Tong Lee

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA


Gregory C. Johnson

NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, Washington, USA


Abstract

Temperature-Salinity (T-S) relationship variability in the pycnocline of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean (NINO3 region, 5°S–5°N, 150°W–90°W) over the last two decades is investigated using observational data and model simulation. A numerical model simulation using the MITgcm (Massachusetts Institute of Technology General Circulation Model) suggests that, during El Niño years, the water in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean becomes saltier (by 0.1 to 0.2) and warmer (by 0.5 to 1°C) on density surfaces within the pycnocline. This simulation is consistent with Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) data collected mostly during Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) mooring maintenance cruises.

Received 17 November 2003; accepted 15 January 2004; published 26 February 2004.

Index Terms: 4215 Oceanography: General: Climate and interannual variability (3309); 4522 Oceanography: Physical: El Nino; 4536 Oceanography: Physical: Hydrography; 4231 Oceanography: General: Equatorial oceanography; 4255 Oceanography: General: Numerical modeling.

Read Full Article (file size: 2002822 bytes)    Cited by

Citation: Wang, O., I. Fukumori, T. Lee, and G. C. Johnson (2004), Eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean T-S variations with El Niño, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L04305, doi:10.1029/2003GL019087.