Theoretical and Numerical Study of the Wind-Driven Circulation and Decadal Climate Variability

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0094807 HuangThe main objective of this project is to explore the fundamental structure of the wind-driven gyre and its associated climate variability on decadal time scales. A hierarchy of models will be used in the study, including multi-layer ventilated models with and without a mixed layer; a model for a continuously stratified ocean; an analytical solution with continuous stratification; and oceanic general circulation models. The goals are: (1) to study the structure of the wind-driven circulation in a single hemispheric basin; (2) to study the transient response of the thermocline to decadal climate variability, in particular, the three-dimensional structure of the decadal variability in the thermocline; (3) to study mixed-layer properties and the associated climate variability, using simple analytical models and oceanic general circulation models with a mixed layer; (4) to use inverse methods to study the structure of the thermocline in order to understand the dynamic processes that set up the wind-driven circulation and control the climate variability; and (5) to study water mass formation (subduction and obduction) in the world ocean.