Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3776
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3776
15 Aug 2025
 | 15 Aug 2025

The impact of synoptic meteorology on observed surface heat fluxes over the Southern Ocean

Sreenath Avaronthan Veettil, Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, Steven Siems, Peter May, Haifeng Zhang, and Eric Schulz

Abstract. A 14-year climatology of the bulk sensible and latent heat fluxes (SHF and LHF) made from the Southern Ocean Flux Station (SOFS) is analyzed with respect to the synoptic meteorology and mesoscale cellular convection (MCC). A K-means clustering algorithm identified five synoptic regimes: High Pressure/Ridging (HPR), Tasman Blocking High (TBH), Zonal, Frontal, and Cold Air Advection (CAA). Among these, CAA showed the strongest air-sea coupling, with mean SHF of -40.4 W/m² and LHF of -131.0 W/m², which are 3.5 and 2 times greater than the overall mean, respectively. This striking increase in fluxes during CAA is associated with a high marine cold-air outbreak index (M-index) and weak inversion coupled with cold and dry air transport towards SOFS by the strong south-westerly wind. The SOFS measurements are also employed to evaluate ERA5 fluxes, finding that ERA5 accurately represents the observed bulk SHF and LHF, with a mean bias of 1.6 W/m² for SHF and -6.2 W/m² for LHF, along with significant correlation coefficients of r=0.9 and 0.92, respectively. Turning to open and closed MCC, relatively weak differences in the fluxes are observed between these two states, suggesting that the SHF and LHF are not the primary drivers in the transition between open and closed MCC. In open MCC, SHF and LHF show a strong correlation with the M-index, while closed MCC is associated with a stable atmosphere with a strong inversion, where the M-index relationship with surface fluxes is weak.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share
Sreenath Avaronthan Veettil, Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, Steven Siems, Peter May, Haifeng Zhang, and Eric Schulz

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3776', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 Sep 2025
    • RC2: 'Reply on RC1', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Sep 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3776', Anonymous Referee #3, 20 Sep 2025
Sreenath Avaronthan Veettil, Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, Steven Siems, Peter May, Haifeng Zhang, and Eric Schulz
Sreenath Avaronthan Veettil, Tahereh Alinejadtabrizi, Steven Siems, Peter May, Haifeng Zhang, and Eric Schulz

Viewed

Total article views: 807 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
754 39 14 807 23 44 40
  • HTML: 754
  • PDF: 39
  • XML: 14
  • Total: 807
  • Supplement: 23
  • BibTeX: 44
  • EndNote: 40
Views and downloads (calculated since 15 Aug 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 15 Aug 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 760 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 760 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 28 Sep 2025
Download
Short summary
Using 14 years of observations from mooring, we reported that cold air advection creates intense surface flux exchange over the southern ocean, linked with strong boundary layer instability. Results also indicate that cold air advection creates frequent open mesoscale cellular convective clouds. The flux exchange for open and closed mesoscale cellular convective clouds is comparable, suggesting a limited role of the surface flux in the transition of these boundary layer clouds.
Share