Frontolysis by surface heat flux in the Agulhas Return Current region with a focus on mixed layer processes: observation and a high-resolution CGCM

摘要: Detailed mechanisms for frontogenesis/frontolysis of the Agulhas Return Current (ARC) Front, defined as maximum meridional sea surface temperature (SST) gradient at each longitude within ARC region (40°–50°E, 55°–35°S), are investigated using observational datasets. Due to larger (smaller) latent heat release atmosphere on northern (southern) side front, net flux (NHF) is found throughout year. In austral summer, warming weaker (stronger) side, and thus NHF tends relax SST front. The warming, same time, leads deeper (shallower) mixed layer side. This enhances frontolysis, because less (more) sensitive warming. winter, stronger (weaker) cooling contributes frontolysis. However, induced by suppresses cooling. Therefore, frontolysis becomes through processes in summer (winter). cause depth estimated diagnostic entrainment velocity Monin–Obukhov depth. Furthermore, above obtained from observation confirmed outputs a high-resolution coupled general circulation model. Causes model biases also discussed.