The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Subsurface Ocean Turbulent Mixing Enhances Central Pacific ENSO via Positive Feedback
ID:430 Invited Oral Presentation

2027-01-13 13:30 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 50 - Indo-Pacific Ocean Dynamics and Tropical Climate

Abstract
Since the 21st century, the El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibits more pronounced signals in the central Pacific (CP) rather than the eastern Pacific (EP), but the prediction skill has waned, suggesting limited understanding of crucial dynamics within the prediction framework. The ocean mixing around the mixed layer base, which transfers heat downward in a diabatic manner, was considered a potential influencing factor; yet, its effect has not been adequately examined in either CP or EP regions due to insufficient data. Here, we propose an Argo profile data-based mixing estimation model, which yields abundant estimates of subsurface ocean mixing and turbulent heat flux. Consequently, we find significant positive feedback of the ocean mixing-induced diabatic warming/cooling on the CP ENSO, but not on the EP ENSO. Particularly, the diabatic effect dominates sea surface temperature change in the CP region, highlighting the necessity for diabatic CP ENSO positive feedback dynamics in prediction models.
 
Speaker
Chuanyu Liu Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Author
Chuanyu Liu Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

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