Low Salinity, High Ocean Heat Content, and Warm Core Eddy Effects on the Upper Ocean Response During Hurricane Sally (2020): An Analysis of a Hurricane Glider Observations and Coupled Atmosphere‐Ocean Model.
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| Title: | Low Salinity, High Ocean Heat Content, and Warm Core Eddy Effects on the Upper Ocean Response During Hurricane Sally (2020): An Analysis of a Hurricane Glider Observations and Coupled Atmosphere‐Ocean Model. |
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| Authors: | Tsei, Senam1 (AUTHOR) senam.tsei@usm.edu, Howden, Stephan1 (AUTHOR), Diercks, Arne ‐R.1 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Jun A.2 (AUTHOR), Miles, Travis N.3 (AUTHOR), Nyadjro, Ebenezer4,5 (AUTHOR), Martin, Kevin M.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans. Oct2025, Vol. 130 Issue 10, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Salinity, *Hurricanes, *Ocean dynamics, *Ocean temperature, Loop Current, Hurricane forecasting, Stream measurements, Gulf Stream |
| Geographic Terms: | Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract: | On 15 September 2020, Hurricane Sally traveled within ∼32 km from the location of Seaglider SG601 of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service/National Data Buoy Center (NOAA/NWS/NDBC) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Data from SG601 were used to examine the changes in the upper 100 m of the ocean under Hurricane Sally winds. In this study, we show a 0.5–1°C cooling of the surface layer, recorded on the day of closest approach (DCA) of the glider to Hurricane Sally. We also found that freshwater from river discharge created an upper ocean barrier layer, which reduced the cooling of surface (or mixed) layer temperature by 38.6%. The high barrier layer potential energy (BLPE) together with the high buoyancy frequency squared (N2), prior to 15 September, indicated a very stable water column. Further analysis shows the interaction between SG601, Hurricane Sally, and a warm core Loop Current (LC) eddy in the northern GoM. Findings presented in this study also show that ocean models do not effectively simulate river discharge (plume) in the northern GoM. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we present findings which show the importance of ocean observations acquired at high temporal scales ahead of Hurricane Sally (2020) in the Gulf of Mexico. Data described herein reveal a 0.5–1°C cooling and the presence of low salinity (34PSU) in the upper 20 m layer, two days before the day of closest approach (DCA) of the glider to Hurricane Sally. This low salinity divides the isothermal layer into an upper isohaline part (mixed layer) and a lower part. The lower section of the isothermal layer where salinity increases is termed the barrier layer and is shown here to affect the mixed layer temperature response by limiting the turbulent heat flux between the isothermal layer and the surface mixed layer. This study further highlights the importance of correctly incorporating freshwater (river) discharge into hurricane operational models to improve hurricane predictions. Key Points: Observations from a hurricane glider (Seaglider SG601) highlight the need to get the stratification correct at river discharge sitesRiver discharge and freshwater plumes increase the stability of the water column in the northern GoM regionHurricane Sally increased in wind speed (or intensity) when it reached a river plume and a warm core Loop Current (LC) eddy in the northern GoM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 188963748 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Low Salinity, High Ocean Heat Content, and Warm Core Eddy Effects on the Upper Ocean Response During Hurricane Sally (2020): An Analysis of a Hurricane Glider Observations and Coupled Atmosphere‐Ocean Model. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tsei%2C+Senam%22">Tsei, Senam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> senam.tsei@usm.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Howden%2C+Stephan%22">Howden, Stephan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Diercks%2C+Arne+‐R%2E%22">Diercks, Arne ‐R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Jun+A%2E%22">Zhang, Jun A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miles%2C+Travis+N%2E%22">Miles, Travis N.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nyadjro%2C+Ebenezer%22">Nyadjro, Ebenezer</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin%2C+Kevin+M%2E%22">Martin, Kevin M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Oceans%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 130 Issue 10, p1-17. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Salinity%22">Salinity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hurricanes%22">Hurricanes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+dynamics%22">Ocean dynamics</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+temperature%22">Ocean temperature</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loop+Current%22">Loop Current</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hurricane+forecasting%22">Hurricane forecasting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stream+measurements%22">Stream measurements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gulf+Stream%22">Gulf Stream</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gulf+of+Mexico%22">Gulf of Mexico</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: On 15 September 2020, Hurricane Sally traveled within ∼32 km from the location of Seaglider SG601 of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service/National Data Buoy Center (NOAA/NWS/NDBC) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Data from SG601 were used to examine the changes in the upper 100 m of the ocean under Hurricane Sally winds. In this study, we show a 0.5–1°C cooling of the surface layer, recorded on the day of closest approach (DCA) of the glider to Hurricane Sally. We also found that freshwater from river discharge created an upper ocean barrier layer, which reduced the cooling of surface (or mixed) layer temperature by 38.6%. The high barrier layer potential energy (BLPE) together with the high buoyancy frequency squared (N2), prior to 15 September, indicated a very stable water column. Further analysis shows the interaction between SG601, Hurricane Sally, and a warm core Loop Current (LC) eddy in the northern GoM. Findings presented in this study also show that ocean models do not effectively simulate river discharge (plume) in the northern GoM. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we present findings which show the importance of ocean observations acquired at high temporal scales ahead of Hurricane Sally (2020) in the Gulf of Mexico. Data described herein reveal a 0.5–1°C cooling and the presence of low salinity (34PSU) in the upper 20 m layer, two days before the day of closest approach (DCA) of the glider to Hurricane Sally. This low salinity divides the isothermal layer into an upper isohaline part (mixed layer) and a lower part. The lower section of the isothermal layer where salinity increases is termed the barrier layer and is shown here to affect the mixed layer temperature response by limiting the turbulent heat flux between the isothermal layer and the surface mixed layer. This study further highlights the importance of correctly incorporating freshwater (river) discharge into hurricane operational models to improve hurricane predictions. Key Points: Observations from a hurricane glider (Seaglider SG601) highlight the need to get the stratification correct at river discharge sitesRiver discharge and freshwater plumes increase the stability of the water column in the northern GoM regionHurricane Sally increased in wind speed (or intensity) when it reached a river plume and a warm core Loop Current (LC) eddy in the northern GoM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2024JC021470 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Salinity Type: general – SubjectFull: Hurricanes Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean dynamics Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean temperature Type: general – SubjectFull: Loop Current Type: general – SubjectFull: Hurricane forecasting Type: general – SubjectFull: Stream measurements Type: general – SubjectFull: Gulf Stream Type: general – SubjectFull: Gulf of Mexico Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Low Salinity, High Ocean Heat Content, and Warm Core Eddy Effects on the Upper Ocean Response During Hurricane Sally (2020): An Analysis of a Hurricane Glider Observations and Coupled Atmosphere‐Ocean Model. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Tsei, Senam – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Howden, Stephan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Diercks, Arne ‐R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhang, Jun A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Miles, Travis N. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nyadjro, Ebenezer – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Martin, Kevin M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 10 Text: Oct2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21699275 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 130 – Type: issue Value: 10 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
