Abstract
The response of the oceanic mixed layer to atmospheric forcing during a 6 day period of weakly precipitating tropical atmospheric convection is investigated. A simulation of a cloud-resolving model is used to provide ground level fields of atmospheric variables that drive the upper ocean model. The effect of kilometer scale oceanic variability on the area average air-sea heat flux is assessed and found negligible. Spatial wind variability is found to be the dominant factor leading to temperature anomalies at the sea surface. A simple parameterization of this effect for weakly precipitating conditions is suggested.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 11399-11410 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans |
Volume | 106 |
Issue number | C6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jun 2001 |