Abstract
We present results from a new, global, high-resolution
(~4-km for ocean and ~7-km for
atmosphere) realistic earth system simulation. This simulation allows us
to examine aspects of small-scale air-sea interaction beyond what
previous studies have reported. Our study focuses on recurring
intermittent wind events in the Gulf Stream region. These events induce
local air-sea heat fluxes above Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies
with horizontal scales smaller than 500-km. In particular, strong latent
heat bursts above warm SST anomalies are observed during these wind
events. We show that such wind events are associated with a secondary
circulation that acts to fuel the latent heat bursts by transferring dry
air and momentum down to the surface. The intensity of this secondary
circulation is related to the strength of small-scale SST fronts that
border SST anomalies. The study of such phenomena requires
high-resolution in both the atmospheric and oceanic components of the
model.