Ocean mesoscale structure–induced air–sea interaction in a high-resolution coupled model

Using the Community Earth System Model framework, the authors build a very-high-resolution quasi-global coupled model by coupling an eddy-resolving quasi-global ocean model with a high-resolution atmospheric model. The model is successfully run for six years under present climate conditions, and the simulations are evaluated against observational and reanalysis data. The model is capable of simulating large-scale oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns, sea surface temperature (SST) fronts, oceanic eddy kinetic energy, and fine-scale structures of surface winds. The ocean mesoscale structure–induced air–sea interaction characteristics are explored in detail. The model can effectively reproduce positive correlations between SST and surface wind stress induced by mesoscale structures through comparison with observations. The positive correlation is particularly significant over regions with strong oceanic fronts and eddies. However, the responses of wind stress to eddy-induced SST are weaker in the simulation than in the observations, although different magnitudes exist in different areas. Associated with weak wind responses, surface sensible heat flux responses to eddy-induced SST are underestimated slightly, while surface latent heat flux responses are overestimated because of the drier atmospheric boundary layers in the model. Both momentum mixing and pressure adjustment mechanisms play important roles in surface wind changes over oceanic fronts and eddies in the high-resolution model.