loading page

Observed diurnal cycles of near-surface shear and stratification in the equatorial Atlantic and their wind dependence
  • +4
  • Anna Christina Hans,
  • Peter Brandt,
  • Florent Gasparin,
  • Martin Claus,
  • Sophie Cravatte,
  • Jochen Horstmann,
  • Gilles Reverdin
Anna Christina Hans
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Peter Brandt
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Author Profile
Florent Gasparin
IRD
Author Profile
Martin Claus
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Author Profile
Sophie Cravatte
IRD
Author Profile
Jochen Horstmann
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
Author Profile
Gilles Reverdin
Sorbonne Université, CNRS/IRD/MNHN, LOCEAN-IPSL
Author Profile

Abstract

The diurnal cycles of near-surface shear and stratification, also known as diurnal jet and diurnal warm layer (DWL), are ubiquitous in the tropical oceans, affecting the heat and momentum budget of the ocean surface layer, air-sea interactions, and vertical mixing. Here, we analyse the presence and descent of near-surface diurnal shear and stratification in the upper 20 m of the equatorial Atlantic as a function of wind speed using ocean current velocity and hydrographic data taken during two trans-Atlantic cruises along the equator in autumn 2019 and spring 2022, data from three types of surface drifters, and data from PIRATA moorings along the equator. The observations during two seasons with similar wind speeds but varying net surface heat fluxes reveal similar diurnal jets with an amplitude of about 0.11 m s-1 and similar DWLs when averaging along the equator. We find that higher wind speeds lead to earlier diurnal peaks, deeper penetration depths, and faster descent rates of DWL and diurnal jet. While the diurnal amplitude of shear is maximum for intermediate wind speeds, the diurnal amplitude of stratification is maximum for minimal wind speeds. The presented wind dependence of the descent rates of DWL and diurnal jet is consistent with the earlier onset of deep-cycle turbulence for higher wind speeds. The DWL and the diurnal jet not only trigger deep-cycle turbulence but are also observed to modify the wind power input and thus the amount of energy available for mixing.
08 Jan 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
16 Jan 2024Published in ESS Open Archive
Aug 2024Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans volume 129 issue 8. 10.1029/2023JC020870