On the formation of barrier layers and associated vertical temperature inversions: A focus on the northwestern tropical Atlantic
Open accessAbstract
A unique barrier layer (BL) system in terms of persistence, extension, and associated subsurface temperature maximum is present seasonally in the northwestern tropical Atlantic. Based on climatological output of a general circulation ocean model, we show here that its development consists of two phases. In summer, the BL is relatively shallow and thin but subsurface temperature maxima are intense. The latter develop as a result of the specific seasonality of the freshwater discharge in this area, which limits the mixed layer to a very thin depth while the intense radiative heat flux penetrates significantly below, thereby heating the subsurface waters protected from air‐sea interactions and inducing a barrier layer between the mixed layer and the ocean interior. In winter, the BL development is due to a surface decrease in salinity associated with the surface freshwater capping, which decouples the pycnocline, and hence the winter mixed layer, from the thermocline. The mechanism is ubiquitous in the sense that it is very similar to that of other areas at the same latitude, as well as at high latitudes in regions of seasonal surface freshening. Results are discussed in the light of a simple linear equation linking the BL development to time evolution of Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity stratification.
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ITCZ rainfall gives rise to barrier-layers and associated temperature inversions at the ML base.
“Moreover, the ITCZ rainfall gives rise to barrier-layers, and associated temperature inversions at the ML base (Figure 11D) [41].”
From A model study of the seasonality of sea surface temperature and circulation in the Atlantic North-eastern Tropical Upwelling System (2015) · cites this paper as [41]
Section 3.2 (§22) links freshwater associated with the ITCZ to the salinity stratification needed for barrier layers and temperature inversions. But it says the study area's freshening is primarily due to advection of freshwater sustained by both the Amazon outflow and the ITCZ; it does not identify ITCZ rainfall alone as the cause. The Conclusions (§39) also attribute strong inversions to freshwater capping together with radiative heating below the mixed layer. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe diffusive warming and inversions distribution results from a combination of the large-scale barrier layer distribution associated with the ITCZ and NECC, and from a narrow coastal band reaching further north up to the Cape Verde Peninsula, likely due to advection of equatorial fresh waters by the SLJ as well as local seasonal rainfall.
“Looking at the diffusive warming and inversions distribution, it appears that it results from a combination of the large scale barrier layer distribution associated with the ITCZ and NECC [41], and from a narrow coastal band reaching further north up to the Cape Verde Peninsula, likely due to advection of equatorial fresh waters by the SLJ as well as local seasonal rainfall.”
From A model study of the seasonality of sea surface temperature and circulation in the Atlantic North-eastern Tropical Upwelling System (2015) · cites this paper as [41]
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Research works printed but not linked: 17
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Faye, S., Lazar, A., Sow, B. A., & Gaye, A. T. (2015) · Frontiers in Physics · doi:10.3389/fphy.2015.00076 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Mignot, J., Lazar, A., & Lacarra, M.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- ORCID
- Lazar, A.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 117
- Issue
- C2
- Pages
- C02010
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1981978391
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.science
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Northwestern University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Keywords
- barrier layer, mixed layer, freshwater discharge, radiative heat flux, pycnocline, thermocline, seasonal stratification, sea surface salinity, sea surface temperature, surface freshening, ocean general circulation model
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