Abstract
The first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation (R 1) in the Sea of Okhotsk is estimated using the hydrological datasets from the World Ocean Atlas (WOA) 2001 and WOA 2013. It is established that the maximum values of R 1 are observed over the Kuril Basin (18–20 km), and its minimum values (1.5–2 km), over the northern shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk. In the central part of the sea R1 varies from 8 to 10 km. The seasonal variability of R1 for both datasets is characterized by the minima in winter and by the maxima in summer. It was found that on the eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island R 1 reaches the maximum both in November (∼6 km) and in April (∼4-5 km). According to the obtained estimates of R 1, the model grid resolution of 3 to 8 km should be used for the eddy-permitting numerical simulation of circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk, and the model grid resolution from 1.5 to 2 km, for the explicit simulation of mesoscale variability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
N. V. Bulatov, L. A. Kurennaya, and L. P. Muktepavel, “Eddy Water Structure in the Southern Okhotsk Sea and Its Seasonal Variability (Results of Satellite Monitoring),” Okeanologiya, No. 1, 39 (1999) [Oceanology, No. 1, 39 (1999)].
N. A. Dianskii, “Dynamic Characteristics of the Desalinate Water Lens in the Equatorial Atlantic,” Trudy GOIN, No. 197 (1991) [in Russian].
N. A. Dianskii, Ocean Circulation Modeling and Investigation of Ocean Response to Short- and Long-period Atmospheric Impacts (Fizmatlit, Moscow, 2013) [in Russian].
V. V. Novotryasov, “Dispersion Dependences and Vertical Structure of Internal Gravity Waves on the Shear Flow (Numerical Analysis),” Okeanologiya, No. 6, 31 (1991) [Oceanology, No. 6, 31 (1991)].
J. Pedlosky, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Vols. 1 and 2 (Mir, Moscow, 1984) [Transl. from English].
D. V. Stepanov, “Long-term Variability of Water Circulation in the Japan Sea in the Second Half of the 20th Century,” Vestnik DVO RAN, No. 6 (2015) [in Russian].
T. Boyer, S. Levitus, H. Garcia, et al., “Objective Analyses of Annual, Seasonal, and Monthly Temperature and Salinity for the World Ocean on a 0.25 Degrees Grid,” Int. J. Climatol., 25 (2005).
D. B. Chelton, R. A. de Szoeke, M. G. Schlax, et al., “Geographical Variability of the First Baroclinic Rossby Radius ofDeformation,” J. Phys. Oceanogr., 28 (1998).
D. B. Chelton, G. M. Schlax, and R. M. Samelson, “Global Observations of Nonlinear Mesoscale Eddies,” Prog. Oceanogr., 91 (2011).
R. A. Locarnini, A. V. Mishonov, J. I. Antonov, et al., World Ocean Atlas 2013, Vol. 1: Temperature (NOAA, 2013).
J. Matsuda, H. Mitsudera, M. Nakamura, et al., “Overturning Circulation That Ventilates the Intermediate Layer of the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific: The Role of Salinity Advection,” J. Geophys. Res., 120 (2015).
T. J. McDougall and P. M. Barker, “Comment on “Buoyancy Frequency Profiles and Internal Semidiurnal Tide Turning Depths in the Oceans" by B. King et al.,” J. Geophys. Res., 119 (2014).
O. Saenko, “Influence of Global Warming on Baroclinic Rossby Radius in the Ocean,” J. Climate, 19 (2006).
Y. Sasajima, H. Hasumi, and T. A. Nakamura, “A Sensitivity Study of the Dense Shelf Water Formation in the Okhotsk Sea,” J. Geophys. Res., 115 (2010).
M. M. Zweng, J. R. Reagan, J. I. Antonov, et al., World Ocean Atlas 2013, Vol. 2: Salinity (NOAA, 2013).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © D. V. Stepanov, 2017, published in Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, 2017, No. 9, pp. 83–89.
About this article
Cite this article
Stepanov, D.V. Estimating the baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation in the Sea of Okhotsk. Russ. Meteorol. Hydrol. 42, 601–606 (2017). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373917090072
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373917090072