Relationships between synoptic storm activity and sea surface temperature anomalies over the North Pacific Ocean.

Abstract

The significance of year-round relationships between synoptic storm activity and sea-surface temperature (SST) over the North Pacific Ocean for the period January 1969 through December 1978, were examined using cross-correlation analysis. The possible existence of a seasonal dependence in the SST-wind relationships was examined using sub-sample record cross-correlation analysis and model tests with both a constant and a variable mixed-layer depth, respectively. Wind forcing data was represented by (U-3*), friction velocity cubed, and wind stress curl (CURL sub Z tau), as computed from: (a) High-pass filtered wind components only (periods less than ten days), (b) High- and Low- pass filtered wind components which includes the interaction terms and (c) the unfiltered (total) wind components.