The ocean is mainly driven by wind stress, but simultaneous observations show that the gain of momentum flux by the ocean can be larger than the wind stress due to the influence of ocean waves.
Upper ocean and mixed layer processes
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Hurricanes Wakes Show Asymmetrical Response in Ocean Salinity
It’s well known that hurricanes can substantially impact ocean surface temperature, but a new study shows they can also induce an ocean salinity response in unexpected ways.
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Below the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: More Garbage
New research is finding there’s more to marine debris than just what appears near the ocean surface, including tons of microplastics extending hundreds of meters into the deep.
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El Cambio Climático Está Intensificando las Corrientes Oceánicas del Ártico
El derretimiento del hielo significa que los fuertes vientos del Ártico están creando corrientes más energéticas en el giro de Beaufort.
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Climate Change Is Intensifying Arctic Ocean Currents
Melting ice means that strong Arctic winds create more energetic currents in the Beaufort Gyre.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Oceanic Mixing Influences Development of ENSO Cycle
Changes in oceanic turbulence act to regulate the sea surface temperature during the evolution of the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle.
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The Kuroshio Current: Artery of Life
The waters of the Kuroshio Current in the northwestern Pacific Ocean transport heat, salt, and organic and inorganic matter from south to north, shaping the ocean ecosystem.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Yellowing Seas Will Affect Ocean Temperatures
Materials that trap solar heat at the sea surface could cause more extreme temperatures.
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Dispersal of River Water by Ocean Eddies and Shallow Ekman Flow
Low-salinity water from the Ganga-Brahmaputra river is transported by mesoscale eddies in the Bay of Bengal, but when the monsoon winds strengthen, a shallow “Ekman” flow dominates dispersal of water.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Yellow Detritus in the Oceans May Help Reduce Warming
Dissolved organic matter in the oceans absorbs light near the water’s surface, leading to cooler waters that may help mitigate regional climate warming.