Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Understanding surface and subsurface temperature changes induced by tropical cyclones in the Kuroshio

  • Published:
Ocean Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Surface and subsurface temperature changes in the Kuroshio induced by tropical cyclones (TCs) were investigated using both 10-year observational datasets (SST maps and Argo data) and temperature budget analysis of idealized numerical simulations. Although Argo data are very limited during a TC’s passage, they provided unique in situ measurements at the subsurface of the Kuroshio. Compared to the surface water in the Kuroshio and in the general ocean, the subsurface water of the Kuroshio shows a rapid temperature warming (recovery) after a TC’s passage. Budget analysis on the model simulations suggested that the temperature changes at surface Kuroshio are dominated by the wind-induced vertical mixing, while the subsurface temperature changes are primarily dominated by TC-induced Ekman pumping (downwelling-upwelling-downwelling pattern). The Kuroshio subsurface water is warmed up mainly by the downwelling process, and then transported downstream by strong Kuroshio currents. Sensitivity experiments suggested that the recovery time of the subsurface temperature cooling is more sensitive to TC translation speeds and less sensitive to the Kuroshio current velocities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andres M et al (2008) Study of the Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system based on satellite-altimeter and in situ measurements. J Oceanogr 64(6):937–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cione JJ, Uhlhorn EW (2003) Sea surface temperature variability in hurricanes: implications with respect to intensity change. Mon Weather Rev 131(8):1783–1796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flather RA (1976) A tidal model of the northwest European continental shelf. Mem Soc R Sci Liege 10(6):141–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo X et al (2003) A triply nested ocean model for simulating the Kuroshio-Roles of horizontal resolution on JEBAR. J Phys Oceanogr 33(1):146–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsueh Y (2000) The Kuroshio in the East China Sea. J Mar Syst 24(1):131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang PS, Sanford TB, Imberger J (2009) Heat and turbulent kinetic energy budgets for surface layer cooling induced by the passage of Hurricane Frances (2004). J Geophys Res 114, C12023. doi:10.1029/2009JC005603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ichikawa H, Beardsley RC (2002) The current system in the Yellow and East China Seas. J Oceanogr 58(1):77–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob SD, Shay LK, Mariano AJ, Black PG (2000) The 3D oceanic mixed layer response to Hurricane Gilbert. J Phys Oceanogr 30:1407–1429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaimes B, Shay LK (2009) Mixed layer cooling in mesoscale oceanic eddies during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Mon Weather Rev 137:4188–4207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jullien S, Menkes CE, Marchesiello P, Jourdain NC, Lengaigne M, Koch-Larrouy A, Lefevre J, Vincent EM, Faure V (2012) Impact of tropical cyclones on the heat budget of the south pacific ocean. J Phys Oceanogr 42(11):1882–1906. doi:10.1175/jpo-d-11-0133.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu LL et al (2008) The mechanical energy input to the ocean induced by tropical cyclones. J Phys Oceanogr 38(6):1253–1266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazawa Y et al (2004) Roles of mesoscale eddies in the Kuroshio paths. J Phys Oceanogr 34(10):2203–2222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morimoto A et al (2009) Movement of the Kuroshio axis to the northeast shelf of Taiwan during typhoon events. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 82(3):547–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagano A et al (2007) Current system east of the Ryukyu Islands. J Geophys Res: Oceans (1978–2012), 112(C6)

  • Oey LY et al (2006) Loop current warming by Hurricane Wilma. Geophys Res Lett 33(8)

  • Park JJ et al (2011) Argo array observation of ocean heat content changes induced by tropical cyclones in the north Pacific. J Geophys Res: Oceans (1978–2012), 116(C12)

  • Price JF (1981) Upper ocean response to a hurricane. J Phys Oceanogr 11(2):153–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price JF et al (1994) Forced stage response to a moving hurricane. J Phys Oceanogr 24(2):233–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sakaida F et al (1998) Sea surface cooling caused by typhoons in the Tohoku Area in August 1989. J Geophys Res Oceans 103(C1):1053–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanford TB et al (2011), Upper-ocean response to hurricane frances (2004) Observed by Profiling EM-APEX Floats**. J Phys Oceanogr 41(6)

  • Shay LK, Black PG, Mariano AJ, Hawkins JD, Elsberry RL (1992) Upper ocean response to Hurricane Gilbert. J Geophys Res 97, 20 227–20 248

  • Shay LK et al (2000) Effects of a warm oceanic feature on Hurricane Opal. Mon Weather Rev 128(5)

  • Shchepetkin AF, McWilliams JC (2005) The regional oceanic modeling system (ROMS): a split-explicit, free-surface, topography-following-coordinate oceanic model. Ocean Model 9(4):347–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small RJ et al (2008) Air–sea interaction over ocean fronts and eddies. Dyn Atmos Oceans 45(3):274–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sriver RL, Huber M (2007) Observational evidence for an ocean heat pump induced by tropical cyclones. Nature 447(7144):577–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun L et al (2012) Ocean responses to Typhoon Namtheun explored with Argo floats and multiplatform satellites. Atmos Ocean 50(sup1):15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng Y et al (2012) Validation of the Kuroshio Current system in the dual-domain Pacific Ocean model framework. Prog Oceanogr 105:102–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uhlhorn EW, Shay LK (2012) Loop current mixed layer energy response to Hurricane Lili (2002). Part I: observations. J Phys Oceanogr 42(3):400–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uhlhorn EW, Shay LK (2013) Loop current mixed layer energy response to Hurricane Lili (2002). Part II: idealized numerical simulations. J Phys Oceanogr

  • Vincent EM, Lengaigne M, Madec G, Vialard J, Samson G, Jourdain N, Menkes CE, Jullien S (2012) Processes setting the characteristics of sea surface cooling induced by tropical cyclones. J Geophys Res 117, C02020. doi:10.1029/2011JC007396

    Google Scholar 

  • Vissa NK et al (2012) Response of Upper Ocean during passage of MALA cyclone utilizing ARGO data. Int J Appl Earth Obs Geoinf 14(1):149–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei J, Liu X, Wang D (2014) Dynamic and thermal responses of the Kuroshio to typhoon Megi (2004). Geophys Res Lett 41, doi:10.1002/2014GL061706

  • Wu Q, Chen D (2012) Typhoon-Induced Variability of the Oceanic Surface Mixed Layer Observed by Argo Floats in the Western North Pacific Ocean. Atmos Ocean 50(sup1):4–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu CR et al (2008) Air‐sea interaction between tropical cyclone Nari and Kuroshio. Geophys Res Lett 35(12)

  • Zheng ZW et al (2008) Importance of pre‐existing oceanic conditions to upper ocean response induced by Super Typhoon Hai‐Tang. Geophys Res Lett 35(20)

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China, under grant no. 41476008, the Major State Basic Research Development Program (2015CB452805), and by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA11010303).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Xin Liu & Jun Wei

Authors
  1. Xin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jun Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Wei.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Jinyu Sheng

This article is part of the Topical Collection on the 6th International Workshop on Modeling the Ocean (IWMO) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 23-27 June 2014

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, X., Wei, J. Understanding surface and subsurface temperature changes induced by tropical cyclones in the Kuroshio. Ocean Dynamics 65, 1017–1027 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-015-0851-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-015-0851-9

Keywords

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation