Role of mixed layer depth in the Agulhas Return Current front

What is it about?

Sea surface temperature (SST) fronts in the mid-latitudes plays an important role in climate. Thus, understanding what controls the strength of SST fronts is an important issue. Because heat loss to the atmosphere is larger on the equatorward side of the front with warmer water, surface heat flux tends to reduce the SST difference across the front. Although sensitivity of the upper ocean to surface heat flux is inversely proportional to mixed layer depth (MLD; depth of upper ocean with almost un

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Why is it important?

This study is the first to quantitatively show that meridional variation in mixed layer depth is a crucial factor affecting the strength of the sea surface temperature front in the Agulhas Return Current region.