A subtropical front is a surface water mass boundary or front, which is a narrow zone of transition between air masses of contrasting density, air masses of different temperatures or different water vapour concentrates.[1][clarification needed] It is also characterized by an unforeseen change in wind direction, and speed across its surface between water systems, which are based on temperature and salinity. The subtropical separates the more saline subtropical waters from the fresher sub-Antarctic waters.[2]
A subtropical frontal zone (STFZ) is a large seasonal cycle located on the eastern side of basins. It is made up of fronts of multiple weak sea surface temperature (SST), aligned northwest–southeast, spread over a large latitudinal span. On the far eastern side of basins, the subtropical frontal zone becomes narrower and temperature gradients stronger, but still much weaker than across the dynamical subtropical frontal zone.[2]
A dynamical frontal zone sits at the southern limit of the saline subtropical waters on the western sides of basins. There are no water mass boundaries or fronts in correlation with the sea surface temperature at the subtropical frontal zone at the surface or beneath.
The structure of a subtropical frontal zone results in the formation of a positive wind stress curl, which is the shear stress exerted by wind on the surface of water. The areas of most positive wind stress curl are characterized by very weak sea surface temperature incline, and are likely consistent to regions of mode water.
Northern subtropical frontEdit
The Northern subtropical front is found in the Pacific Ocean between 25° and 30° north latitude.
North Atlantic subtropical frontsEdit
The North Atlantic subtropical fronts possess the characteristics of seasonal variability. Highest front occurrences are during early spring in the western region. Less front probability occurs in late spring to early summer in the eastern region. The strengths of the fronts differ with seasons, building strength when moving southward during the winter and spring, and weakening when moving northward during the summer.[3]
North Pacific subtropical frontsEdit
The North Pacific subtropical fronts are occupied by wind driven submesoscale subduction. Due to the constant thermohaline circulation fronts, cold air flows near the surface and bottom of the ocean. There are alternating fluxes throughout the year, that is influenced by jet streams which causes temperatures in these areas to differ.[4]
Southern subtropical frontEdit
The Southern subtropical front is caused by warm, salty subtropical waters and Antarctic waters, found in all three ocean basins. A commonly used criterion found is that the salinity at a depth of 100m drops below 34.9 practical salinity units.
South Atlantic subtropical frontal zoneEdit
A characteristic of the South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone, between 15°W and 5°E, is the conversion from subtropical to sub-polar waters. As a result, this coerces the South Atlantic Current flow and is surrounded by a distinct front.[5]
^Glossary of Atmospheric Terms 2010-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
^ abGraham, Robert M., and Agatha M. Boer. "The dynamical subtropical front." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 118.10 (2013): 5676-5685.
^Ullman, D. S., P. C. Cornillon, and Z. Shan. "On the characteristics of subtropical fronts in the North Atlantic." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans (1978–2012) 112.C1 (2007).
^Hosegood, P. J., M. C. Gregg, and M. H. Alford (2013), Wind-driven submesoscale subduction at the north Pacific subtropical front, J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 118, 5333–5352, doi:10.1002/jgrc.20385
^D. Smythe-Wright, P. Chapman, C.Duncombe Rae, L.V. Shannon, S.M. Boswell, Characteristics of the South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone between 15°W and 5°E, Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, Volume 45, Issue 1, January 1998, Pages 167-192, ISSN 0967-0637.
External linksEdit
Southern Subtropical Front
August 29, 2023
subtropical, front, this, article, confusing, unclear, readers, particular, mixes, water, indiscriminately, please, help, clarify, article, there, might, discussion, about, this, talk, page, august, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, subtropic. This article may be confusing or unclear to readers In particular mixes air and water indiscriminately Please help clarify the article There might be a discussion about this on the talk page August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message A subtropical front is a surface water mass boundary or front which is a narrow zone of transition between air masses of contrasting density air masses of different temperatures or different water vapour concentrates 1 clarification needed It is also characterized by an unforeseen change in wind direction and speed across its surface between water systems which are based on temperature and salinity The subtropical separates the more saline subtropical waters from the fresher sub Antarctic waters 2 Contents 1 Subtropical frontal zone 2 Northern subtropical front 3 North Atlantic subtropical fronts 4 North Pacific subtropical fronts 5 Southern subtropical front 6 South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksSubtropical frontal zone EditA subtropical frontal zone STFZ is a large seasonal cycle located on the eastern side of basins It is made up of fronts of multiple weak sea surface temperature SST aligned northwest southeast spread over a large latitudinal span On the far eastern side of basins the subtropical frontal zone becomes narrower and temperature gradients stronger but still much weaker than across the dynamical subtropical frontal zone 2 A dynamical frontal zone sits at the southern limit of the saline subtropical waters on the western sides of basins There are no water mass boundaries or fronts in correlation with the sea surface temperature at the subtropical frontal zone at the surface or beneath The structure of a subtropical frontal zone results in the formation of a positive wind stress curl which is the shear stress exerted by wind on the surface of water The areas of most positive wind stress curl are characterized by very weak sea surface temperature incline and are likely consistent to regions of mode water Northern subtropical front EditThe Northern subtropical front is found in the Pacific Ocean between 25 and 30 north latitude North Atlantic subtropical fronts EditThe North Atlantic subtropical fronts possess the characteristics of seasonal variability Highest front occurrences are during early spring in the western region Less front probability occurs in late spring to early summer in the eastern region The strengths of the fronts differ with seasons building strength when moving southward during the winter and spring and weakening when moving northward during the summer 3 North Pacific subtropical fronts EditThe North Pacific subtropical fronts are occupied by wind driven submesoscale subduction Due to the constant thermohaline circulation fronts cold air flows near the surface and bottom of the ocean There are alternating fluxes throughout the year that is influenced by jet streams which causes temperatures in these areas to differ 4 Southern subtropical front EditThe Southern subtropical front is caused by warm salty subtropical waters and Antarctic waters found in all three ocean basins A commonly used criterion found is that the salinity at a depth of 100m drops below 34 9 practical salinity units South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone EditA characteristic of the South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone between 15 W and 5 E is the conversion from subtropical to sub polar waters As a result this coerces the South Atlantic Current flow and is surrounded by a distinct front 5 See also EditOcean currentReferences Edit Glossary of Atmospheric Terms Archived 2010 07 22 at the Wayback Machine a b Graham Robert M and Agatha M Boer The dynamical subtropical front Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans 118 10 2013 5676 5685 Ullman D S P C Cornillon and Z Shan On the characteristics of subtropical fronts in the North Atlantic Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans 1978 2012 112 C1 2007 Hosegood P J M C Gregg and M H Alford 2013 Wind driven submesoscale subduction at the north Pacific subtropical front J Geophys Res Oceans 118 5333 5352 doi 10 1002 jgrc 20385 D Smythe Wright P Chapman C Duncombe Rae L V Shannon S M Boswell Characteristics of the South Atlantic subtropical frontal zone between 15 W and 5 E Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers Volume 45 Issue 1 January 1998 Pages 167 192 ISSN 0967 0637 External links EditSouthern Subtropical Front Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Subtropical front amp oldid 1170475991, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
