Variability And Correlation Analysis On The Waves And The Mixing Layer Depth Over Global Oceans

Ocean wave play an important role in the processes of momentum,heat and mass exchange in the air-sea interface between the ocean and theatmosphere. The Sea surface wind energy input to waves plays animportant influence on the upper ocean.Based on observed data, this study focuses on the relations betweenwaves and upper ocean mixing layer depth. Both Topex/Poseidon andJason-1satellite altimeter observation data of significant wave height andthree sets of temperature observation data which consist ofArgo(2003-2009), GTSPP(1993-2009) and SubTS(1993-2006) are used.The improved method of obtaining mixing layer depth is employed toachieve the ocean mixing layer depth by using the three sets oftemperature observation data. The irregular data of waves and mixinglayer depth are processed into monthly averaged regular data withhorizontal resolution of1°×1°. Both the spatial distribution and temporalvariation of the monthly averaged significant wave height and mixinglayer depth are analyzed, Decades trend of the waves and the mixinglayer depth is also analyzed, and the results show that the waves of theNorth Pacific have a significant decreasing trend, a strong increasingtrend exist in the30°S-45°S of the South Pacific region; the feature ofmixing layer depth is increasing significantly in the low-latitude region ofthe Pacific West Bank, the east coast of the Indian Ocean and high-latitudes Atlantic. Lastly, the correlationship between significant wave height squarevalue and mixing layer depth is studied. Results indicate that correlationcoefficient over both hemisphere mid-latitude regions is larger and themaximum is about0.8, but smaller in equatorial regions. The anomalyand annual anomaly correlation coefficient of significant wave height andmixing layer depth is smaller in the equatorial region too, but in botheastern and southern Pacific Ocean and southern Indian Ocean, thecorrelationship is evident and the maximum value is above0.6. Inconclusion, this study indicates that there exists a certain correlationshipbetween ocean waves and upper Ocean mixing layer depth. The formerplays an important role to strengthen the latter, which mechanics shouldbe studied further.