Sack Lunch Seminar (SLS)

Using the seasonal cycle to probe surface cooling and subsurface warming in the Southern Ocean

Sea surface temperatures (SST) measured by satellite shows a long-term cooling trend in the Southern Ocean, while temperature profiles measured by Argo floats and historic hydrographic data indicate a long-term surface-to-mid-depth warming trend. A number of studies have identified credible mechanisms to account for the differing surface and sub-surface trends. Data quality and spatial coverage of measurements might also lead to contradictory long-term temperature trends. The annual cycles in air-sea heat flux and upper ocean temperatures are used as a framework for further exploring upper ocean response to heating as well as long-term changes.