Steric sea-level variations over 2004-2010 as a function of region and depth; Inference on the mass component variability in the North Atlantic Ocean
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Material Information

Title:
Steric sea-level variations over 2004-2010 as a function of region and depth; Inference on the mass component variability in the North Atlantic Ocean
Series Title:
Geophysical Research Letters
Creator:
Llovel, W.
Meyssignac, B.
Cazenave, A.
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Climate Change ( lcsh )
North Atlantic Ocean ( lcsh )
Sea Level Rise ( lcsh )

Notes

Abstract:
We investigate the regional-ocean depth layer (down to 2000m) contributions to global mean steric sea level from January 2004 to March 2010, using Argo-based ocean temperature and salinity data from the SCRIPPS Oceanographic Institution database. We find that Indian ocean warming is almost compensated by Atlantic ocean cooling, so that the total global mean steric sea level increases only slightly over the considered period (0.35 +/- 0.30 mm/yr). A decrease in salinity in the latter ocean also contributes to the observed steric compensation. Meanwhile, the Pacific steric sea level increases only slightly (0.35 +/- 0.25 mm/yr). In the North Atlantic region (and principally in the tropical Atlantic between 0° and 20°N), the mean sea level and ocean mass component (estimated by the difference between satellite altimetrybased minus steric sea level over the same area) shows strong interannual variability significantly correlated with the ENSO., with positive sea level and ocean mass anomalies corresponding to ENSO cold phases (La Nina). This result placed in the context of a previous study on ENSO-driven land water contribution to sea level interannual variability suggests some link between tropical Pacific state, water cycle and tropical Atlantic sea level and ocean mass during ENSO events. ( English )

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Source Institution:
Florida International University
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Sea Level Rise