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General Session 1: Physical oceanic processes: Dynamics and physical-biological-biogeochemical interactions |
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Inter-basin heat and salt transports by eddies from the Agulhas Leakage
GS1-11-S
Lu Han* , XMU&UD Joint Center of Ocean Remote Sensing
Xiao-Hai Yan, XMU&UD Joint Center of Ocean Remote Sensing
Presenter Email: luhan@udel.edu
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| Since the net rate of ocean heat uptake is unabated, the surface warming slowdown (so-called hiatus) signature is considered to be due to an internal rearrangement of heat within the ocean. Yet still, no consensus has been reached on the mechanism. Studies suggested various theories about the roles of different ocean basins. However, our study shows that the different ocean basins are tightly connected and at play together. In this presentation, we focus on the variability of the Agulhas Leakage which transports warm and saline water from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean by rings, mesoscale eddies, and filaments. We also compare its behavior during the global warming acceleration and hiatus period. The leakage has been proved by a model study to affect the Atlantic overturning circulation. The inter-basin heat and salt transports are evaluated by tracking the eddies emitted from the leakage with three different eddy tracking methods, and by monitoring the temperature and salinity structure inside the eddies with in-situ data. This study provides a better understanding of the inter-basin transport carried by the leakage and its role in global climate change in general, and in "hiatus" in particular.
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