A recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans reveals a marked acceleration in upper-ocean circulation within the equatorial Pacific over the last three decades. The primary driver of this acceleration is intensified atmospheric winds, resulting in stronger and shallower ocean currents.
The research team, led by Franz Philip Tuchen, synthesized thirty years of long-term ocean and atmosphere observations from satellites, mooring buoys, and ocean surface drifters. By integrating reanalysis of wind data and satellite altimetry into a high-resolution time series of near-surface ocean currents, the study presents a new and comprehensive view to date of the changes in the Pacific upper-ocean circulation.
The findings indicate that stronger winds across the equatorial Pacific have caused a notable acceleration of westward near-surface currents. Poleward currents north and south of the equator have also accelerated, with increases of 60 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
According to Tuchen, “the equatorial thermocline—a critical ocean layer for El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics—has steepened significantly.” This steepening trend could reduce ENSO amplitude in the eastern Pacific and favor more frequent central Pacific El Niño events, potentially altering regional and global climate patterns associated with ENSO.
The study’s findings offer a benchmark for climate models, which have had limited success to accurately represent Pacific circulation and sea surface temperature trends. The researchers suggest that their study could help improve the predictability of ENSO events and related weather patterns, especially for regions like the United States, which experience significant climate variability from ENSO-driven changes.
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Source: https://scitechdaily.com/pacific-ocean-currents-are-accelerating-and-it-could-change-global-climate-as-we-know-it