Ocean Circulation and Biogeochemical responses to Typhoons

Abstract:

Typhoons produce vertical and horizontal mixing in the ocean and impact biogeochemical response. The goal of this study is to examine the fundamental processes involved in the physical and biogeochemical changes occurring in an ocean basin traversed by a zonally moving typhoon. The study employs an idealized typhoon wind field with varying intensities and translation speeds over a rectangular ocean basin. The model is based on the mpiPOM which is coupled to an NPZD biogeochemical model. The results show north-south asymmetric responses depending on the translation speeds of the typhoon, due to (1) the different intensities of inertial oscillation, (2) mixing caused by symmetric instability, and (3) re-stratification by mixed-layer baroclinic instability along the typhoon track.