Swift Languages and Rapid Computational Time-Domain Studies
Unveiling the Hidden Influence of Internal Waves in the Equatorial Pacific
A groundbreaking research cruise led by principal investigators Caitlin Whalen and Gunnar Voet has shed new light on the role of internal waves beneath the ocean surface in shaping global climate patterns, particularly in the equatorial Pacific.
The cruise, undertaken by a team from the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics (MOD) group at UC San Diego in November 2024, focused on the equatorial Pacific Ocean, a key region for the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode of climate variability. The team consisted of researchers and students from universities in Seattle, Boulder, Liverpool, and Tel Aviv.
During the cruise, the team deployed three subsurface moorings, spanning close to the full ocean depth of more than 4,000 meters (13,120 feet). Each of the moorings is equipped with about 100 internally recording sensors, including those that directly resolve turbulence scales the size of a few inches, a collaboration with Oregon State University oceanographer Jim Moum. The moorings will capture data on many TIWs passing the array.
The research has revealed that internal waves in the equatorial Pacific significantly influence global climate patterns by modulating oceanic and atmospheric interactions crucial to phenomena like ENSO. These waves redistribute heat vertically and horizontally beneath the sea surface, impacting the subsurface temperature structure and, consequently, the buildup and release of ocean heat that drives ENSO variability.
Voet and Whalen's findings suggest that internal wave activity below the equatorial Pacific surface contributes to off-equatorial subsurface warm water movements via wave-driven Rossby waves and Kelvin waves. These subsurface waves propagate westward and eastward, respectively, shaping heat anomalies that migrate towards the surface and influence El Niño onset and development.
The impact of internal waves on the equatorial Pacific has broader implications for global climate patterns because ENSO influences large-scale atmospheric circulation, precipitation, and temperature anomalies worldwide. The team used the FastCTD, Epsifish, and custom electrically powered winch systems to record rapid profiles of ocean temperature, salinity, and turbulence down to depths of about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), providing valuable data for further study.
The moorings will be recovered during a cruise planned for December 2025, marking the completion of this significant research project. The organization at the University of California San Diego, one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education, will continue to play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of climate patterns and their impact on our planet.
- The oceanographic research carried out by the team from the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics (MOD) group at UC San Diego, focused on the equatorial Pacific Ocean, involves the application of science and technology, specifically in understanding the role of internal waves in shaping global climate patterns.
- The data captured from the subsurface moorings deployed during the research cruise, equipped with over a hundred internally recording sensors, will contribute significantly to the advancement of science and technology, particularly in the field of oceanography, as it will deepen our understanding of the influence of internal waves on global climate patterns, particularly in the equatorial Pacific.
