VOCALS: Mesoscale Ocean Dynamical Analysis with Synoptic Data Assimilation and Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Modeling

智力优势：VOCALS，VAMOS海洋云大气陆地研究（VAMOS是美国季风系统项目的可变性）观测和建模计划，旨在解决控制东南太平洋（SEP）海洋-大气系统的基本动力学问题。大规模的大气沉降、大面积的层积云、生物和人为气溶胶、冷的海面温度、海洋边界流的上升和强有力的中尺度海洋涡旋都以复杂的方式在该地区相互作用，影响局部、盆地尺度和全球尺度的气候变率。本文主要研究了南美洲西海岸沿着上升流区产生的中尺度涡旋，这些涡旋主要通过两种方式影响SEP的海表温度分布。涡动热通量驱动SST的变化，通过改变大气边界层的稳定性以及由此产生的海气界面的热量、动量和水汽通量来影响大气边界层。涡流还影响营养物质的输送，而营养物质的输送控制着海洋生物和随之产生的、形成气溶胶的二甲基硫通量。中尺度海洋涡旋的动力学将在两个相关的模拟研究中进行探索，这将有助于VOCALS观测的诊断，并将帮助我们了解控制海洋涡旋场，沿海风，热通量和VOCALS域中云的变化的相互作用的机制。首先，VOCALS活动观测到的中尺度海洋调查将用于数据同化实验（使用IROMS，逆区域海洋模式），以诊断海洋环流场的动态和敏感性。数据同化？适合吗VOCALS水文调查的结果（以及伴随的数据）将提供至关重要的环流动态一致性诊断，以解释物理变量、大气变量和生物之间的关系。广义稳定性分析将允许定量评估模式解对各种参数的敏感性，例如上游海洋强迫、地形、风、热通量等。第二，如果时间允许，来自NCEP的大尺度大气强迫场将在VOCALS区域缩小尺度，允许使用区域海洋-大气耦合模式（SCOAR）的海气反馈过程来诊断中尺度空气的重要性，在VOCALS观测期间以及关键回顾期内的海洋反馈，并将这些反馈的变化与大尺度气候过程联系起来。这项研究具有更广泛的影响，因为它与ENSO相关的气候可预测性有关（厄尔尼诺南方涛动）和全球变暖，这两者都对SEP的准确模拟敏感。这项工作还将导致对国家和国际气候界年轻科学家的教育和培训。这项研究也与具有重要商业意义的东南太平洋渔业管理有关，因为渔业管理必须处理鱼类种群的变化以及厄尔尼诺/南方涛动变异和温室变暖引起的环流变化造成的灾难性变化的可能性。最后，将为一名研究生提供培训和指导。该项目是对美国CLIVAR（气候变化和可预测性）计划的贡献。

Intellectual Merit: The VOCALS, the VAMOS Ocean Cloud Atmosphere Land Study (VAMOS is the Variability of the American Monsoon Systems project) observational and modeling program has been designed to address the fundamental dynamics that control the ocean-atmosphere system in the Southeast Pacific (SEP). Large-scale atmospheric subsidence, broad regions of stratocumulus clouds, biogenic and anthropogenic aerosols, cool sea-surface temperature, upwelling ocean boundary currents, and vigorous mesoscale ocean eddies all interact in complicated ways in this region to affect local, basin-scale and global-scale climate variability. This research focuses on the mesoscale eddies generated in the upwelling regions along the west coast of South America, which affect the distribution of sea-surface temperature (SST) in the SEP in two major ways. Eddy heat fluxes drive SST changes that affect the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) by altering its stability and consequent heat, momentum and moisture fluxes at the air-sea interface. Eddies also affect nutrient transport, which controls ocean biology and consequent DMS fluxes that create aerosols. The dynamics of mesoscale ocean eddies will be explored in the two related modeling studies that will aid in the diagnosis of the VOCALS observations and will help us to understand the mechanisms that control the interactions of the variability of the ocean eddy fields, the coastal winds, heat fluxes, and clouds in the VOCALS domain. First, observed mesoscale oceanic surveys of the VOCALS campaign will be used in data assimilation experiments (using IROMS, the Inverse Regional Ocean Model) to diagnose the dynamics and sensitivities of the ocean circulation fields. Data assimilation ?fits? of the VOCALS hydrographic surveys (and concomitant data) will provide crucial dynamically consistent diagnostics of the circulation for interpreting the relation between physical variables, atmospheric variables and biology. Generalized Stability Analysis will allow the quantitative assessment of sensitivities of model solutions to various parameters, such as upstream ocean forcing, topography, winds, heat fluxes, etc. Second, if time allows, lLarge-scale atmospheric forcing fields from NCEP will be downscaled over the VOCALS region, allowing air-sea feedback processes using a regional coupled ocean-atmosphere model (SCOAR) to diagnose the importance of mesoscale air-sea feedbacks during the VOCALS observational period, as well as for key retrospective periods, and to relate the variability of these feedbacks to large-scale climate processes.Broader Impacts: This research has broader impacts in that it is relevant to climate predictability associated with ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) and global warming, both of which are sensitive to accurate simulation of the SEP. The work additionally will result in the education and training for young scientists in the national and international climate community. This research is also relevant to commercially important SEP fisheries management, which must deal with variations in fish populations and the potential for catastrophic changes due to ENSO variability and changes in circulation due to greenhouse warming. Finally training and mentoring will be provided to a graduate student.This project is a contribution to the U.S. CLIVAR (CLImate VARiability and predictability) Program.