Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades
Abstract The seasonal cycle, responsible for much of the temperature variability in the upper ocean, exerts profound climatic and ecological influence. While surface intensification of temperature seasonality has been widely examined, changes beneath the ocean surface remain unknown. Here we analyze...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01986-4 |
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| author | Fukai Liu Yiyong Luo Fengfei Song Wen-Xiao Yu Jian Lu Lijing Cheng |
| author_facet | Fukai Liu Yiyong Luo Fengfei Song Wen-Xiao Yu Jian Lu Lijing Cheng |
| author_sort | Fukai Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The seasonal cycle, responsible for much of the temperature variability in the upper ocean, exerts profound climatic and ecological influence. While surface intensification of temperature seasonality has been widely examined, changes beneath the ocean surface remain unknown. Here we analyze multiple ocean temperature datasets, revealing a robust, substantial weakening of subsurface seasonality by 5.7 ± 1.8% below the mixed layer in extratropical oceans since the 1980s. Using a hierarchy of climate models and an idealized diffusive model, we attribute this weakening to increased ocean heat uptake driven by rising greenhouse gases. This process strengthens upper ocean stratification, suppresses vertical mixing, and limits heat penetration into deeper ocean layers, resulting in a more quiescent subsurface ocean with reduced seasonal variability. Our findings highlight a new fingerprint of anthropogenic influence on subsurface ocean seasonality, with important implications for ocean biogeochemical processes and marine ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f0a2cdb41ee4097b4cceb002a11ce43 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f0a2cdb41ee4097b4cceb002a11ce432025-01-05T12:47:34ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-12-01511810.1038/s43247-024-01986-4Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decadesFukai Liu0Yiyong Luo1Fengfei Song2Wen-Xiao Yu3Jian Lu4Lijing Cheng5Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaFrontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaFrontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaFrontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaFrontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System and Physical Oceanography Laboratory, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract The seasonal cycle, responsible for much of the temperature variability in the upper ocean, exerts profound climatic and ecological influence. While surface intensification of temperature seasonality has been widely examined, changes beneath the ocean surface remain unknown. Here we analyze multiple ocean temperature datasets, revealing a robust, substantial weakening of subsurface seasonality by 5.7 ± 1.8% below the mixed layer in extratropical oceans since the 1980s. Using a hierarchy of climate models and an idealized diffusive model, we attribute this weakening to increased ocean heat uptake driven by rising greenhouse gases. This process strengthens upper ocean stratification, suppresses vertical mixing, and limits heat penetration into deeper ocean layers, resulting in a more quiescent subsurface ocean with reduced seasonal variability. Our findings highlight a new fingerprint of anthropogenic influence on subsurface ocean seasonality, with important implications for ocean biogeochemical processes and marine ecosystems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01986-4 |
| spellingShingle | Fukai Liu Yiyong Luo Fengfei Song Wen-Xiao Yu Jian Lu Lijing Cheng Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| title_full | Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| title_fullStr | Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| title_short | Weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| title_sort | weakening of subsurface ocean temperature seasonality over the past four decades |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01986-4 |
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