Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-25-2012
Department
Marine Science
Abstract
A set of sensitivity experiments are performed with a two-way coupled and nested ocean-atmosphere forecasting system in order to deconvolve how dense phytoplankton stocks in a coastal embayment may impact thermal energy exchange processes. Monterey Bay simulations parameterizing solar shortwave transparency in the surface ocean as an invariant oligotrophic oceanic water type estimate consistently colder sea surface temperature (SST) than simulations utilizing more realistic, spatially varying shortwave attenuation terms based on satellite estimates of surface algal pigment concentration. These SST differences lead to an similar to 88% increase in the cumulative turbulent thermal energy transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere over the three month simulation period. The result is a warmer simulated atmospheric boundary layer with respective local air temperature differences approaching similar to 2 degrees C. This study suggests that the retention of shortwave solar flux by ocean flora may directly impact even short-term forecasts of coastal meteorological variables. Citation: Jolliff, J. K., T. A. Smith, C. N. Barron, S. deRada, S. C. Anderson, R. W. Gould, and R. A. Arnone (2012), The impact of coastal phytoplankton blooms on ocean-atmosphere thermal energy exchange: Evidence from a two-way coupled numerical modeling system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L24607, doi:10.1029/2012GL053634.
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
39
Last Page
13102
Recommended Citation
Jolliff, J. K.,
Smith, T. A.,
Barron, C. N.,
deRada, S.,
Anderson, S. C.,
Gould, R. W.,
Arnone, R. A.
(2012). The Impact of Coastal Phytoplankton Blooms on Ocean-Atmosphere Thermal Energy Exchange: Evidence From a Two-Way Coupled Numerical Modeling System. Geophysical Research Letters, 39.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/7560
Comments
©Geophysical Research Letters
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