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Equatorial productivity. 2˚N. EQ. Trade Winds. 2˚S. West. East. EQ. Equatorial Divergence. map view. Ekman Transport {to right in NH}. DIVERGENCE. UPWELLING. Ekman Transport {to left in SH}. Trade Winds. X. X. X. 2˚S. 2˚N. Ekman Trans. Ekman Trans. {to left in SH}.
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2˚N EQ Trade Winds 2˚S West East EQ Equatorial Divergence map view Ekman Transport {to right in NH} DIVERGENCE UPWELLING Ekman Transport {to left in SH}
Trade Winds X X X 2˚S 2˚N Ekman Trans. Ekman Trans. {to left in SH} {to right in NH} EQ Equatorial Divergence cross-section Surface Layer Thins DIVERGENCE UPWELLING
Upwell Warm Water in West Upwell Cold Water in East Thick Warm Surface Layer Warm Surface Layer Thin Warm Surface Layer Bottom of Ekman Layer Thermocline Cold Deep Ocean West East EQ Equatorial upwelling - E vs. W Easterly Trade Winds
Let’s have a look inside… www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/jsdisplay/
But there is more to the story of The “normal” condition in the pacific. The condition just described is greatly Enhanced by what is know as a “positive Feedback”
Cold Deep Ocean West East Air-Sea Feedbacks Trade Winds Enhanced more by stronger Pressure Gradient Trade Winds Enhanced by Pressure Gradient Easterly Trade Winds Stronger H L H colder Upwelling Due to Winds Upwelling Enhanced by Winds Upwelling Enhanced even more by Winds
West East Air-Sea Feedbacks Walker Cell Or Walker Circulation L H
“Normal” conditions • Walker Circulation Strong • Trades blow E to W • Thermocline shallow in E • Upwelling of cold water in E • High primary productivity in E • Warm water piles up in W • E to W temperature gradient reinforces trade winds
Welcome to Our Dynamic Ocean (OCN104) Instructor Petra Dekens
Let’s have a look inside… www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/jsdisplay/
Cold Deep Ocean West East Air-Sea Feedbacks Trade Winds Enhanced more by stronger Pressure Gradient Trade Winds Enhanced by Pressure Gradient Easterly Trade Winds Stronger H L H colder Upwelling Due to Winds Upwelling Enhanced by Winds Upwelling Enhanced even more by Winds
West East Air-Sea Feedbacks Walker Cell Or Walker Circulation L H
“Normal” conditions • Walker Circulation Strong • Trades blow E to W • Thermocline shallow in E • Upwelling of cold water in E • High primary productivity in E • Warm water piles up in W • E to W temperature gradient reinforces trade winds
West East Air-Sea Feedbacks Walker Cell Or Walker Circulation L H
What is an El Niño? Walker Circulation Gone, reverse flow West East
Annual Average “Normal” Short-lived deviation from “Normal”: El Niño (March 1998)
El Niño conditions • Walker Circulation Weak or Gone • Trades very weak or reversed • Thermocline deep in E • Upwelling of warm water in E • Lower primary productivty in E compared to normal years • Sea level rises in E • E to W temperature gradient reduced or gone
West East Equatorial cross-section (across the Pacific) Top of troposphere Walker Cell Or Walker Circulation Darwin, Australia L H Tahiti, Central Pacific
Southern Oscillation Index • Darwin, Australia = Normally Low Pressure • Tahiti = Normally High Pressure • SOI is = Pressure at Tahiti minus Pressure at Darwin • Normal conditions: SOI is positive • El Nino conditions: SOI is negative
West East Normal Rainfall Walker Cell Or Walker Circulation Lots of Rain L H Very Dry
Walker Circulation Gone, reverse flow West East El Niño Rainfall Dry (fires in Australia) Wet (floods in Peru)