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The first operational version of the coupled Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFSv1) launched in 2023 consists of the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) and finite-volume cubed-sphere (FV3) dynamic atmosphere model. This system is a product of efforts involving improvements and updates over a 4-year period (2019-2022) through extensive collaborations between the Environmental Modeling Center at the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and NOAA Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorology Laboratory. To provide two sets of numerical guidance, the initial operational capability of HAFSv1 was configured to two systems -HFSA and HFSB. In this study, we present in-depth analysis of the forecast skills of the upper ocean that was co-evolved by the HFSA and HFSB. We chose hurricane Laura (2020) as an example to demonstrate the interactions between the storm and oceanic mesoscale features. Comparisons performed with the available in situ observations from gliders as well as Argos and National Data Buoy Center moorings show that the HYCOM simulations have better agreement for weak winds than high winds (greater than Category 2). The skill metrics indicate that the model sea-surface temperature (SST) and mixed layer depth (MLD) have a relatively low correlation. The SST, MLD, mixed layer temperature (MLT), and ocean heat content (OHC) are negatively biased. For high winds, SST and MLT are more negative, while MLD is closer to the observations with improvements of about 8%-19%. The OHC discrepancy is proportional to predicted wind intensity. Contrarily, the mixed layer salinity (MLS) uncertainties are smaller and positive for higher winds, probably owing to the higher MLD. The less-negative bias of MLD for high winds implies that the wind-force mixing is less effective owing to the higher MLD and high buoyancy stability (approx. 1.5-1.7 times) than the observations. The heat budget analysis suggests that the maximum heat loss by hurricane Laura was 0(< 3°C per day). The main contributor here is advection, followed by entrainment, which act against or with each other depending on the storm quadrant. We also found relatively large unaccountable heat residuals for the in-storm period, and the residuals notably led the heat tendency, meaning that further improvements of the subscale simulations are warranted. In summary, HYCOM simulations showed no systematic differences forced by either HFSA or HFSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weddell Gyre plays an important role in the global climate system by supplying heat to underneath the ice shelves, and to the formation of deep and bottom water masses, which have been subject to widespread warming over past decades. In this study, we investigate the redistribution of heat throughout the Weddell Gyre by diagnosing the terms of the heat conservation equation for a 1000 m thick layer of water encompassing the core of Warm Deep Water. The spatial distribution of the different advective and diffusive terms in terms of heat tendencies are estimated using gridded climatologies of temperature and velocity, obtained from Argo floats in the Weddell Gyre from 2002 to 2016. While the results are somewhat noisy on the grid scale, the heat budget (i.e., the sum of all terms) nearly closes when integrated over the southern limb and the interior circulation cell of the Weddell Gyre. There is an overall balance between the mean horizontal advection and horizontal turbulent diffusion of heat, whereas the vertical terms contribute comparatively little to the heat budget. Heat convergence due to mean horizontal advection balances with divergence due to horizontal turbulent diffusion in the southern limb of the Weddell Gyre. In contrast, heat divergence due to mean horizontal advection nearly balances with convergence due to horizontal turbulent diffusion in the interior circulation cell of the Weddell Gyre. Heat is advected into the Weddell Gyre along the southern limb, some of which is turbulently diffused northwards into the interior circulation cell, while some is turbulently diffused southwards towards the shelf seas. This suggests that horizontal turbulent diffusion plays a role in transporting heat both towards the gyre interior where upwelling occurs, as well as towards the ice shelves. Horizontal turbulent diffusion is also a mechanism by which heat can be transported into the Weddell Gyre across the open northern boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Liang-Kleeman rate of information transfer is used to quantify interactions between the different terms of the ocean heat budget at monthly time scale over the period 1988–2017 in three coupled global climate models participating in the High Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP), as well as in the Ocean Reanalysis System 5 (ORAS5). In particular, we focus on the influences of ocean heat transport convergence (dynamical influence) and net surface heat flux (thermodynamical influence) on ocean heat content tendency. At least two different configurations are used for each model, allowing to investigate the impact of ocean resolution on these causal relationships. A very small number of regions with a dynamical influence is found at high ocean resolution (≤ 0.25°) and ORAS5 reanalysis when considering the upper 50 m, while a thermodynamical influence is present in a large number of regions. The number of regions with a dynamical influence increases when taking into account the upper 300 m and becomes comparable to the thermodynamical influence. Interestingly, low-resolution model configurations (1° in the ocean) show a much larger number of regions with a significant dynamical influence for both depth integrations (upper 50 m and 300 m) compared to high-resolution model configurations. The reason for the large difference in dynamical influence between low and high resolutions partly comes from the spatial distribution of ocean velocity field, which is highly variable at high resolution, leading to a smaller dynamical influence. High resolution is therefore key in representing realistically the causal interactions between the ocean and atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Angolan shelf system represents a highly productive ecosystem. Throughout the year sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are cooler near the coast than further offshore. Lowest SSTs, the strongest cross-shore temperature gradient and maximum productivity occur in austral winter when seasonally prevailing upwelling favourable winds are weakest. Here, we investigate the seasonal mixed layer heat budget to analyse atmospheric and oceanic causes for heat content variability. By using different satellite and in-situ data, we derive monthly estimates of surface heat fluxes, mean horizontal advection and local heat content change. We calculate the heat budgets for the near coastal and offshore regions separately to explore processes that lead to the observed differences. The results show that the net surface heat flux warms the coastal ocean stronger than further offshore thus acting to damp spatial SST differences. Mean horizontal heat advection is dominated by meridional advection of warm water along the Angolan coast. However, its contribution to the heat budget is small. Ocean turbulence data suggests that the heat flux due to turbulent mixing across the base of the mixed layer is an important cooling term. This turbulent cooling that is strongest in shallow shelf regions is capable of explaining the observed negative cross-shore temperature gradient. The residuum of the mixed layer heat budget and uncertainties of budget terms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper ocean response of Bay of Bengal to two extremely severe post-monsoon tropical cyclones, Phailin and Hudhud, which occurred in the same time of the season (4–12 October 2013 and 6–12 October 2014 respectively) with very similar tracks and life cycles are presented in this study. It is observed that, even though the tropical cyclone Phailin was much stronger than tropical cyclone Hudhud, the cooling of the underlying ocean was more rapid and intense during the passage of tropical cyclone Hudhud. Heat budget analysis of the upper ocean based on realistic simulations using Regional Ocean Modeling System suggests that, while the vertical processes, horizontal advection and the reduction in the net heat flux have contributed to the cooling of the upper ocean in both the cases, the intensity of vertical processes were relatively weaker in the case of tropical cyclone Phailin. Further analysis shows that the surface layers of Bay of Bengal were relatively more stable in October 2013 due to excess rainfall in the preceding summer monsoon compared to October 2014, which was succeeded by a poor monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates of the sub‐seabed fluid flow rates are important for understanding hydrological budgets, biogeochemical cycles, and physical properties of the sediments. Fluid flow rates and directions, however, are difficult to measure, particularly beneath the seafloor. We developed a rapid method to estimate regional fluid migration rates using an extensive database of seismic reflection profiles taken offshore SW Taiwan. We observe bottom‐simulating reflector (BSR) that deflects toward the seafloor near thrust faults that indicate localized heat flow variations. At these sites, advecting warm pore fluids transport heat to shallower depths and force the BSR shallower. Our 2D steady‐state numerical method quantifies the fluid flow rates required to cause such thermal anomalies. We found that fluid flow rates near the trench of the accretionary wedge range between 0.1 and 16 m3 yr−1 m−1, with slower and faster rates generally associated with slope basin discontinuities and faults, respectively. To evaluate the fluid pattern evolution from subduction to collision, we studied three transects: one along the Manila subduction zone in the south and two in Taiwan's initial collision zone in the north. We quantified the fluid budget and partitioning of fluid flow between focused discharge through faults and diffusive flow through the wedge. Faults in Taiwan's accretionary wedge capture on average 25% of the total dewatering flux in the younger subduction zone and 38.5% in the tectonically mature collision zone. Our method provides estimates of fluid migration rates along convergent plate boundaries, and contributes to our understanding of focused fluid flow processes in many other regions. Plain Language Summary: Fluids play a key role in many subduction zone processes. However, quantitative constraints on flow expulsion rates and directions are limited. Efficient upward fluid migration through subbottom conduits can be generated tectonically, such as faults. Faults are ubiquitous along convergent margins; yet, a quantitative understanding of their impact on regional fluid budgets, flow rates, and distribution at vent sites remains unclear. We developed a rapid numerical method to constrain 2D focused fluid flow rates using seismically derived thermal structure and applied it to the subduction‐collision zone system off SW Taiwan. To study the influence of long‐term tectonic processes on the fluid budget, we remotely mapped the distribution and amount of focused fluid flow across the convergent margin, using a widespread shallow subbottom temperature field derived from a spatially dense seismic data set covering an area of more than 25,000 km2. We combined the results with other previously published geophysical data sets to calculate the margin fluid budget. We found stronger fluid advection from depth along the collision zone, where thicker sediments are deformed more intensively. Our approach to quantify fluid fluxes is applicable to a range of tectonic regimes and can provide critical insight into local, regional, or even global fluid budget estimates. Key Points: Developed a method to quantify fluid flow rates from BSR‐based temperature dataIdentified fluid partitioning patterns off SW Taiwan from subduction to collisionFocused fault‐related flow controls the local depth of the hydrate stability zone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat flow and physical properties package (HP3) of the InSight Mars mission is an instrument package designed to determine the martian planetary heat flow. To this end, the package was designed to emplace sensors into the martian subsurface and measure the thermal conductivity as well as the geothermal gradient in the 0–5 m depth range. After emplacing the probe to a tip depth of 0.37 m, a first reliable measurement of the average soil thermal conductivity in the 0.03–0.37 m depth range was performed. Using the HP3 mole as a modified line heat source, we determined a soil thermal conductivity of 0.039 ± 0.002 W m−1 K−1, consistent with the results of orbital and in‐situ thermal inertia estimates. This low thermal conductivity implies that 85%–95% of all particles are smaller than 104–173 μm and suggests that soil cementation is minimal, contrary to the considerable degree of cementation suggested by image data. Rather, cementing agents like salts could be distributed in the form of grain coatings instead. Soil densities compatible with the measurements are 1211−113+149 kg m−3, indicating soil porosities of 63−9+4%. Plain Language Summary: The heat flow and physical properties package (HP3) of the InSight Mars mission is an instrument package that was designed to measure soil temperature as well as the soil's ability to transport heat, the so called thermal conductivity. After the probe was inserted to a depth of 0.37 m a first measurement of the soil's thermal conductivity was performed. The soil was found to be a poor thermal conductor with average conductivity close to 0.039 W m−1 K−1. As thermal transport properties in sands are related to grain size, the latter can be estimated based on the performed measurement. We find that particles must be smaller than about 150 μm, corresponding to fine sand that may be intermixed with dust. Further, salts in the soil can act as cementing agents, which connect individual sand grains and thus increase the strength of grain‐to‐grain contacts and therefore thermal conductivity. However, given the low thermal conductivity determined here, the amount of such cement must be minimal, contrary to what is suggested by image data. Finally, we find that the soil must have significant porosity of about 60% to be compatible with our measurements. Key Points: The Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) measured the average thermal conductivity of the martian soilAverage soil thermal conductivity in the 0.03–0.37 m depth range is 0.039 ± 0.002 W m−1 K−1This implies that 85%–95% of all particles are smaller than 104–173 μm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feedback induced by mesoscale wind stress-SST coupling to the ocean in the western coast of South America was studied using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). To represent the feedback, an empirical mesoscale wind stress perturbation model was constructed from satellite observations, and was incorporated into the ocean model. Comparing two experiments with and without the mesoscale wind stress-SST coupling, it was found that SST in the mesoscale coupling experiment was reduced in the western coast of South America, with the maximum values of 0.5 °C in the Peru Sea and 0.7 °C in the Chile Sea. A mixed layer heat budget analysis indicates that horizontal advection is the main term that explains the reduction in SST. Specifically, the feedback induced by mesoscale wind stress-SST coupling to the ocean can enhance vertical velocity in the nearshore area through the Ekman pumping, which brings subsurface cold water to the sea surface. These results indicate that the feedback due to the mesoscale wind stress-SST coupling to the ocean has the potential for reducing the warm SST bias often seen in the large-scale climate model simulations in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoscale eddies redistribute heat, salt, and nutrients in oceans. The South Atlantic Ocean (SA) is a basin that has active mesoscale eddies for which characteristics of the three‐dimensional structure and its leading mechanism are complex but have yet been studied sufficiently. Here based on ocean reanalysis datasets we use a composite analysis approach to analyze the mixed layer anomalous heat budget and find distinct two types of spatial patterns: dipole and monopole – mainly present in the northern and southern regions of the SA, respectively. The dipole can be attributed to ocean horizontal advection, especially to the combined effect of eddy anomalous meridional current and meridional gradient of mean temperature. The monopole, on the other hand, is associated with complex contributions, for which zonal and meridional advections play opposite roles as cooling or heating around the eddies. At the eddy center, the vertical advection is non‐negligible, especially the mean upwelling and vertical temperature gradient playing a vital role in the formation of a monopole. The analysis of eddy meridional heat transport shows that the stirring component is dominant, and poleward in most areas, especially at high latitudes. Such analysis on the leading mechanism of eddy‐induced temperature anomaly could help improve our understanding on meso‐ and small‐scale air‐sea interactions and eddy‐induced heat transport in the SA. Plain Language Summary: Mesoscale eddies can modulate the distribution of ocean heat content, and their imprint on temperature is dipole (monopole) in lower (higher) latitudes of the South Atlantic Ocean (SA). Here, applying the analysis of the mixed layer anomalous heat budget, we study the main mechanism of the spatial structure of the eddy‐induced temperature anomaly in different regions of the SA. Results show that the meridional and vertical advections are the dominant factors that affect the formation of two types of the eddy structure patterns, and eddies with monopole structure can transport more heat poleward in the form of stirring. Key Points: 3‐dimensional structure of mesoscale eddies in the South Atlantic Ocean (SA) has been studiedTwo spatial patterns of mesoscale eddies in SA–dipole and monopole are identifiedHeat budget analysis reveals that meridional and vertical advections are the main factors that affect the formation of two types of the spatial patterns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Gulf Stream separates from the coast, it sheds both Warm and Cold Core Rings between 75 ∘ and 55 ∘ W . We present evidence that this ring formation behavior has been asymmetric over both interannual and seasonal time-scales. After a previously reported regime-shift in 2000, 15 more Warm Core Rings have been forming yearly compared to 1980–1999. In contrast, there have been no changes in the annual formation rate of the Cold Core Rings. This increase in Warm Core Ring production leads to an excess heat transfer of 0.10 PW to the Slope Sea, amounting to 7.7–12.4% of the total Gulf Stream heat transport, or 5.4–7.3% of the global oceanic heat budget at 30 ∘ N . Seasonally, more Cold Core Rings are produced in the winter and spring and more Warm Core Rings are produced in the summer and fall leading to more summertime heat transfer to the north of the Stream. The seasonal cycle of relative ring formation numbers is strongly correlated (r = 0.82) with that of the difference in upper layer temperatures between the Sargasso and Slope seas. This quantification motivates future efforts to understand the recent increasing influence of the Gulf Stream on the circulation and ecosystem in the western North Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of monsoon onset vortex (MOV) on the mixed layer heat budget in the Bay of Bengal (BOB) in spring 2003 using the reanalysis datasets. The results suggest that the solar radiation flux penetrating the mixed layer and the existence of barrier layer are both able to modulate the effects of MOV on the evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) in the BOB. Prior to the formation of BOB MOV, the local SST raised quickly due to mass of solar radiation reaching the sea surface under the clear-sky condition. Meanwhile, since the mixed layer was shallow before the onset of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM), some solar radiation flux could penetrate to directly heat the deeper water, which partly offset the warming effect of shortwave radiation. On the other hand, the in-situ SST started to cool due to the upwelling of cold water when the MOV generated over the BOB, along with the rapidly increased surface wind speed and its resultant deeper mixed layer. As the MOV developed and moved northward, the SST tended to decrease remarkably because of the strong upward surface latent heat flux over the BOB ascribed to the wind-evaporation mechanism. However, the MOV-related precipitation brought more fresh water into the upper ocean to produce a thicker barrier layer, whose thermal barrier effect damped the cooling effect of entrainment upwelling on the decrease tendency of the BOB SST. In other words, the thermal barrier effect could slow down the decreasing trend of the BOB SST even after the onset of ASM, which facilitated the further enhancement of the MOV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the effects of snow during sea-ice growth have been investigated for sea ice which is thick enough to accommodate dry snow, those for thin sea ice have not been paid much attention due to the difficulty in observing them. Observations are complicated by the presence of slush and its subsequent freeze-up, and the surface heat budget might be sensitive to the additional ice thickness. An onsite short-term land fast sea-ice freeze-up experiment in the Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan was carried out to examine the effects of snowfall on the structure and surface heat budget of thin sea ice, based on observational results and a 1-D thermodynamic model. We found that snowfall contributes to the solidification of the surface slush layer, contributing ice thickness that is comparable to the snowfall amount and affecting the crystal texture significantly. On the other hand, the basal ice growth rate and turbulent heat flux were not significantly affected, being <3.1 × 10−8 m s−1 and 3 W m−2, respectively. This finding may validate the omission in past studies of snow effect in estimating ice production rates in polynyas and has implications about the reconstruction of growth history from sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why did the predicted "super El Niño" fade out in the summer 2014 and the following year develop into one of the three strongest El Niño on record? Although some hypotheses have been proposed in previous studies, the quantitative contribution of oceanic processes to these events remains unclear. We investigated the role of various oceanic feedbacks, especially in response to intra-seasonal westerly wind busts, in the evolution of the 2014–2016 El Niño events, through a detailed heat budget analysis using high temporal resolution Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean—Phase II (ECCO2) simulation outputs and satellite-based observations. Results show that the Ekman feedback and zonal advective feedback were the two dominant oceanic processes in the developing phase of the warm event in the spring of 2014 and its decay in June. In the 2015–2016 super El Niño event, the zonal advective feedback and thermocline feedback played a significant role in the eastern Pacific warming. Moreover, the thermocline feedback tended to weaken in the central Pacific where the zonal advection feedback became the dominant positive feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data collected by two buoy arrays that operated during the ice seasons of 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 were used to characterize annual cycles of ice motion and deformation in the western Arctic Ocean. An anomalously strong and weak Beaufort Gyre in 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 induced generally anticyclonic and cyclonic sea ice drift during 2014/2015 and 2016/2017, respectively. Cyclonic ice motion resulted in higher contributions of ice divergence to total ice deformation in 2016/2017 than in 2014/2015. In 2014, the autumn ice concentration and multiyear ice coverage were higher than in 2016; consequently, the response of ice motion to wind forcing was weak, and less ice deformation was observed in autumn 2014. During the autumn--winter transition, the ice--wind speed ratio, ice deformation rate and its spatial and temporal scaling exponents, and localization of ice deformation decreased markedly in both 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 as a result of freeze--up and consolidation of ice floes. Such dynamic behavior was maintained through to spring with the further thickening of ice cover. Ice deformation increased due to weakened ice strength as summer approached. The amplitude of the annual cycle of ice deformation rate in the western Arctic Ocean in 2014/2015 and especially in 2016/2017 was larger than that observed during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) program in 1997/1998. We attribute this phenomenon to ice loss during the recent summers, especially of thick multiyear ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One approach to estimating vertical heat diffusivity (KT) is to compute it from the residual of the mixed layer (ML) heat budget. Based on this approach, we use moored buoy data at 15°N, 12°N, and 8°N along 90°E over the period of 2007–2018 to estimate the seasonal average of KT at the base of the mixed layer in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). We find that KT is lower during spring and higher during winter compared to summer and fall at the mooring locations. Moreover, KT is generally higher in the southern BoB compared to the northern BoB. The present study also shows that the seasonal and spatial variability of KT is modulated both by stratification at the base of ML and by seasonal and spatial heterogeneity in atmospheric forcing, most notably wind stress and buoyancy flux. The availability of information on the spatial and seasonal variability of KT in the BoB will facilitate evaluation and validation of turbulent mixing parameterization schemes incorporated into ocean models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Thermometric quantification betweenfaulted and undeformed rocks are compared with numerically calculated shearheating during thrustingDistributed cataclastic flow of alarge shallow thrust (5‐7 km depht) produces a persistent temperature incrementof few tens of degreesHigher and more localized temperature increase(50‐150 degrees) requires seismic slip [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a low thermal budget microwave annealing (MWA) method for calcination of electrospun In-Ga-ZnO (IGZO) nanofibres and demonstrate an improvement in the performance of IGZO nanofibre field-effect transistors (FETs) by Ar/O2 mixed-plasma surface treatment. The IGZO nanofibres were fabricated by electrospinning method and calcined using MWA method. This process allowed for a significant reduction in the heat treatment temperature and time. Subsequently, plasma surface treatment using various ratios of Ar/O2 gas mixtures was carried out. The surface morphology and chemical composition of MWA-calcined and plasma-treated IGZO nanofibres were studied by SEM and XPS analysis. In order to investigate the effects of MWA calcination combined with Ar/O2 mixed-plasma treatment on the electrical properties and the reliability of nanofibres-based transistors, IGZO nanofibres FETs were fabricated and applied to resistor-loaded inverters. Our results show that the O2 plasma treatment significantly improves the performance of IGZO nanofibres FETs and the resistor-loaded inverters based on IGZO nanofibres FETs, whereas Ar plasma treatment degrades the performance of these devices. The instability tests using positive bias temperature stress (PBTS) and negative bias temperature stress (NBTS) revealed that the O2 plasma treatment contributed to the stability of IGZO nanofibres FETs. Our results suggest that the MWA calcination combined with the Ar/O2 mixed-plasma surface treatment is a promising technique for the fabrication of high performance IGZO nanofibres FETs with low thermal budget processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean transports vast amounts of heat around the planet, helping to regulate regional climate. One important component of this heat transport is the movement of warm water from equatorial regions toward the poles, with colder water flowing in return. Here, we introduce a framework relating meridional heat transport to the diabatic processes of surface forcing and turbulent mixing that move heat across temperature classes. Applied to a (1/4)° global ocean model the framework highlights the role of the tropical Indo‐Pacific in the global ocean heat transport. A large fraction of the northward heat transport in the Atlantic is ultimately sourced from heat uptake in the eastern tropical Pacific. Turbulent mixing moves heat from the warm, shallow Indo‐Pacific circulation to the cold deeper‐reaching Atlantic circulation. Our results underscore a renewed focus on the tropical oceans and their role in global circulation pathways. Key Points: Heat budget analysis reveals links between meridional and diathermal ocean heat transportsLarge fraction of Atlantic northward heat transport is sourced from eastern tropical Pacific heat uptakeTurbulent mixing transfers heat from warm shallow Indo‐Pacific circulation to cold deep‐reaching Atlantic circulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, encouraging progress has been made on surface-channel inversion-mode In-rich InGaAs NMOSFETs with superior drive current, high transconductance and minuscule gate leakage, using atomic layer deposited (ALD) high-k dielectrics. Although gate-last process is favorable for high-k/III-V integration, high-speed logic devices require a self-aligned gate-first process for reducing the parasitic resistance and overlap capacitance. On the other hand, a gate-first process usually requires higher thermal budget and may degrade the III-V device performance. In this paper, we systematically investigate the thermal budget of gate-last and gate-first process for deep-submicron InGaAs MOSFETs. We conclude that the thermal instability of (NH4)2S as the pretreatment before ALD gate dielectric formation leads to the potential failure of enhancement-mode operation and deteriorates interface quality in the gate-first process. We thus report on the detailed study of scaling metrics of deep-submicron self-aligned InGaAs MOSFET without sulfur passivation, featuring optimized threshold voltage and negligible off-state degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of the deposition temperature Td on the Si-mediated excitation of Er ions within silicon-rich silicon oxide layers obtained by magnetron cosputtering. For Td exceeding 200 °C, an efficient indirect excitation of Er ions is observed for all as-deposited samples. The photoluminescence intensity improves gradually up to a maximum at Td=600 °C before decreasing for higher Td values. The effects of this 'growth-induced annealing' are compared to those resulting from the same thermal budget used for the 'classical' approach of postdeposition annealing performed after a room temperature deposition. It is demonstrated that the former approach is highly beneficial, not only in terms of saving time but also in the fourfold enhancement of the Er photoluminescence efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on zinc oxide thin films grown by atomic layer deposition at a low temperature, which is compatible with a low thermal budget required for some novel electronic devices. By selecting appropriate precursors and process parameters, we were able to obtain films with controllable electrical parameters, from heavily n-type to the resistive ones. Optimization of the growth process together with the low temperature deposition led to ZnO thin films, in which no defect-related photoluminescence bands are observed. Such films show anticorrelation between mobility and free-electron concentration, which indicates that low n electron concentration is a result of lower number of defects rather than the self-compensation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper oceanic thermal response induced by Tropical Cyclone Phailin (9–14 October 2013) under the influence of East India Coastal Current (EICC) and a cyclonic eddy is investigated and contrasted with the response from open ocean region using a high‐resolution HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model simulation. There is significant cooling (7° C) inside the cold core eddy and negligible cooling (0.5° C) within the EICC region characterized by the shallow and deeper thermocline, respectively. Our analysis of mixed layer heat budget terms showed that the horizontal advection plays a significant role in determining the temperature tendency for the location within the EICC, in contrary to the general dominance of vertical processes as reported in previous studies during the cyclone period. The analysis for the locations inside eddy and open ocean concurs with the previous studies showing the dominance of vertical processes toward the temperature tendency. Further, near the coast, the surface cooling is minimal compared to the subsurface cooling, dominantly seen between 50‐ and 100‐m depth. This disparity indicates that the factors responsible for the surface temperature anomalies are different from those of subsurface. Our analysis of thermal signatures after the passage of cyclone showed that the EICC and cyclonic eddy contribute to the faster advection of cold wake and recovery of sea surface temperature to the prestorm state. Key Points: Tropical Cyclone Phailin‐induced ocean thermal responses near to the coast are dominated by horizontal advection in contrary to the open oceanWeak sea surface temperature cooling is observed near the coast despite the passage of an intense cyclonePoststorm thermal recovery of ocean is modulated by coastal boundary current and associated cyclonic eddy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere determines the temporal evolution of the global climate, and vice versa changes in the climate system can alter the planetary energy fluxes. This interplay is fundamental to our understanding of Earth's heat budget and the climate system. However, even today, the direct measurement of global radiative fluxes is difficult, such that most assessments are based on changes in the total energy content of the climate system. We apply the same approach to estimate the long-term evolution of Earth's radiative imbalance in the past. New measurements of noble gas-derived mean ocean temperature from the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica Dome C ice core covering the last 40,000 y, combined with recent results from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide ice core and the sea-level record, allow us to quantitatively reconstruct the history of the climate system energy budget. The temporal derivative of this quantity must be equal to the planetary radiative imbalance. During the deglaciation, a positive imbalance of typically +0.2 W⋅m-2 is maintained for ~10,000 y, however, with two distinct peaks that reach up to 0.4 W⋅m-2 during times of substantially reduced Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. We conclude that these peaks are related to net changes in ocean heat uptake, likely due to rapid changes in North Atlantic deepwater formation and their impact on the global radiative balance, while changes in cloud coverage, albeit uncertain, may also factor into the picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the synoptic impacts of wintertime extratropical cyclones on northeastern China. The 181 analyzed cyclones mainly originate from eastern Mongolia and dissipate over the North Pacific Ocean. Precursor negative geopotential height anomalies for these cyclones emerge over continental areas near the Barents and Kara Seas. Baroclinic instability and midlatitude westerly winds are the dominant factors driving the development and movement of these cyclones from their precursor signals. Owing to the southeastward migration of the cyclones, temperature over northeastern China first increases and then decreases, resulting in a significant increase in the frequency of extreme weather. These cyclones contribute about 70.6% of the extreme precipitation days over northeastern China. Relative moisture contributions from the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and East Asia are all anomalously large during cyclones associated with extreme precipitation days, with moisture from these regions entering northeastern China mainly through its southern and western boundaries. Temperature variations over northeastern China play a critical role in the accumulation of moisture for extreme precipitation and the timing of that precipitation. Moisture transport initially contributes to an increase in precipitable water due to warm temperature anomalies. The added precipitable water is then released as extreme precipitation when the atmosphere over northeastern China starts to cool. Key Points: Precursors for extratropical cyclones over northeastern China occur in continental areas close to the Barents and Kara SeasExtratropical cyclones initially warm then cool northeastern ChinaExtratropical cyclones play a leading role in triggering wintertime extreme precipitation over northeastern China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As compared to the conventional smart-cut technology based on single H ion implantation, sequential implantation of H and He ions has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the implantation fluence and the thermal budget needed for Si layer splitting process. However, the sequential implantation method involves complicated process parameters such as ion energy and implantation sequence. The purpose of this study is to clarify the dependence of He ion energy on Si blistering characteristics by sequential implantation of H and He ions into Si in various sequences. The accelerated energy of H ions was fixed at 40 keV, while that of He ions was changed to 30, 50, and 70 keV. Both the implantation fluences of H and He ions were 1 × 1016 cm−2. The non-isothermal and isothermal annealing methods in combination with an in-situ optical microscopy (OM) detection system were adopted to determine the threshold temperatures and the onset times for blister and crater formation as well as to examine the thermal evolution of blisters and craters. The results revealed that the threshold temperatures for blister and crater formation are highly correlative to the He ion energy and implantation sequence. Higher He ion energy is preferable to blistering for the specimens first implanted with He ions, but the opposite is true for the reverse implantation sequence. This statement can be also supported by the activation energy levels required for blister and crater formation obtained from kinetics analysis. In addition, the variation of hydrogenated complexes induced by sequential implantation and annealing can be evidently identified from the Raman spectra, showing a noticeable transformation of H-related defect complexes from VH 3 to Si(100):H bonding configuration due to the emergence of blisters and craters. Highlights • H/He sequential implantation is proved to be effective for smart-cut technology. • Two-step ion implantation process varied in sequence and He ion energy was done. • Blistering characteristics were assessed using quantitative and kinetics analysis. • Blistering effectiveness depends on implantation sequence and He ion energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1986 El Niño (EN) and 2005 La Niña (LN) experienced distinctive evolution features compared to the typical EN and LN events. The 1986 EN persisted for more than 2 years, whereas the 2005 LN transitioned into a warm episode in the following winter. The physical mechanisms that caused the distinctive evolution features are investigated through an oceanic mixed-layer heat budget (MLHB) analysis. For both cases, major differences with typical EN and LN lie in wind induced anomalous zonal advection and thermocline feedback terms. An anomalous cyclone appeared over the western North Pacific (WNPC) in late 1986, in contract to an anomalous anticyclone (WNPAC) during the mature winter of the typical EN. The eastward propagation of anomalous convective heating from tropical Indian Ocean in late 1986 holds a key for generating the anomalous WNPC in the mature winter of 1986/87 EN. The equatorial westerly anomaly south of the WNPC triggered downwelling Kelvin waves, prolonging the positive SSTA throughout 1987. The negative SSTA center of the 2005 LN shifted eastward by at least 20° in longitude compared to the typical LN. As a result, an anomalous WNPC, with pronounced westerly anomalies at the equator, developed in the 2005 LN mature phase. This led to a rapid decay of the 2005 LN, and by the following boreal summer a positive SSTA formed. The season-dependent air-sea feedback further strengthens the warming in northern fall, leading to a transition from LN to EN in the succeed winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term mean annual cycle and interannual variability of the mixed layer heat budget in the Caribbean Sea are quantified by using high resolution oceanic and atmospheric reanalysis products (the GLobal Ocean ReanalYsis and Simulations, GLORYS2V4, and ERA-Interim) for the period spanning from January 1993 to December 2015. In this region the mixed layer depth (MLD) is relatively shallow, oscillating spatially from 10 to 90 m, with maximum values observed during the dry season (December to March), and minimum values during the main rainy season (September to November). The highest MLD values are found in the northwestern part of the basin and the lowest in the Central and northern South American coastal region. The strength and location of greater MLD oscillations over the Caribbean Sea depend on the intensity of the zonal winds and the location of the Caribbean-Low Level Jet (CLLJ). At interannual timescales, reanalysis data shows that the MLD anomalies are associated with extreme phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); however, low statistical correlation suggests that other factors, such as a Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), or a weak ENSO cycle with a 2-year periodicity, could influence this region, and induce changes in the depth of the mixed layer and in the heat budget within it. The seasonal ocean heat balance within the mixed layer ranges between −315 and 393 W m −2 in the Caribbean region (monthly means around ±60 W m −2 averaged over the entire domain). The net air-sea heat flux varies seasonally around ±60 W m −2 . Analysis of this term shows that during the dry season (rainy season), when the MLD is deep (shallow) the region loses (gains) heat, with net short wave radiation being the main gain, and the latent heat the main loss at seasonal and interannual timescales. The advection term is an order of magnitude less (monthly means from −2 to 7.5 W m −2 ) but has the highest values during the dry season in the northwest Caribbean Sea, when the winds and surface currents are intense. This term tends to provide small interannual heat variability (up to ±2 W m −2 ). The entrainment is almost negligible in its contribution to the budget. At interannual timescales this flux reduces the stored heat by up to ±1 W m −2 . It is noted that although the MLD is not so clearly related with ENSO, the heat stored in this layer is significantly modulated by El Niño/La Niña remote forcing, especially during the period spanning from 1992 to 2001 when intense ENSO events occurred and affected the air-sea fluxes, and the advection. The CLLJ influences both the MLD and the heat budget in the Caribbean Sea. This jet is being modulated by ENSO and other long-term oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal budget is highly critical in processing the emerging group IV Silicon-Germanium-Tin (SiGeSn) optoelectronic devices. These emerging semiconductors exhibit a fundamental direct bandgap covering the mid-infrared range at Sn contents above 10 at. %, which is an order of magnitude higher than the equilibrium solubility. Consequently, the device processing steps must be carried out at temperatures low enough to prevent the degradation of these metastable layers. However, conventional optoelectronic device fabrication methods often require the deposition of dielectric layers at temperatures reaching 400 °C. Although this temperature can be sustained in processing a variety of devices, yet it is sufficiently high to damage GeSn and SiGeSn device structures. With this perspective, the authors investigated the morphological and optical properties of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) layers as an alternative material to conventional dielectric layers. Spin-on-glass deposition on an Si wafer with baking temperatures in the 100–150 °C range leads to high homogeneity and low surface roughness of the TEOS layer. The authors show that the TEOS optical transmission is higher than 90% from visible to mid-infrared wavelengths (0.38–8 μm), combined with the analysis of the real and complex part of the refractive index. Furthermore, the TEOS deposition on GeSn and SiGeSn samples does not affect the material crystallinity or induces clustering of Sn atoms. Therefore, the low deposition temperature and high transparency make TEOS an ideal material for the integration of metastable GeSn and SiGeSn semiconductors in the fabrication of mid-infrared photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous requirement of excellent interface passivation and low thermal budget is a desirable feature for low cost Si based carrier selective solar cells. Accordingly, Titanium dioxide (TiO2), a widely used electron selective material, finds challenges related to thermal annealing like phase change and compatibility with thermal budget of hole transport layers. To address this, here we report a H2 plasma treatment process at room temperature which significantly reduces the surface recombination velocity (∼40 cm/s). Consequently, the reverse saturation current of the Si-TiO2 diode improves by a factor of 40, built-in potential improves by 100 mV, and the diode exhibits a near unity ideality factor. Using the same method, our Si-based double heterojunction solar cell results in an absolute increase of 2.4% in efficiency over devices with conventional thermal annealing. Given the ease of implementation and excellent performance, the proposed method is a promising alternative to thermal annealing for Si based heterojunction devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a low thermal budget manufacturing method to produce highly rectifying Schottky diodes with ultrathin ZnO films grown at near room temperature by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. A bottom Schottky electrode with Pt and a top ohmic electrode with Al/Au stacks were used for metallization. The resultant diodes demonstrated high rectifying ratios on the order of 106, relatively low ideal factor ${n}$ values of 1.36 ±0.05, effective Schottky barrier height $\Phi _{B}$ values of 0.77 ± 0.01 eV, and high breakdown fields of 1.67 MV/cm extrapolated from the current–voltage (${I}$ – ${V}$) characteristics at room temperature. These specifications are among the best-reported performance of Schottky diodes with ZnO thin films in nanoscale thickness. The interface at the Schottky contacts was investigated and revealed a lateral nonuniform distribution of interface defect states. A modified Richardson plot was used to deduce a mean barrier height ($\overline {\Phi }_{B{0}}$) of 1.25 ± 0.1 eV and an apparent Richardson constantc (${A}^{\ast \ast }$) of 11.64 A/cm2/K2. In addition, ${I}$ – ${V}$ characteristics of the diodes were observed to improve with aging. This newly developed, low thermal budget technique of ZnO Schottky nanodiodes is attractive for hybrid circuit systems and polymer electronics with integration constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Ocean Re-Analysis System 3 (ORA-S3) data, all components of the annual mean heat budget of the upper quasi-homogeneous ocean layer (UQL) in the North Atlantic for the period of 1959-2011 have been calculated and errors of these estimates have been determined. It has been shown that the contribution of the horizontal eddy diffusivity (estimated as a residual term of the UQL heat balance equation) to changes in the UQL annual mean temperature is significantly overestimated. This takes place mainly due to neglecting the covariances of seasonal fluctuations of current velocity vector components and UQL temperature gradients in calculations carried out with the use of annual average values. These covariances play an important role in the annual mean heat budget in some regions of the North Atlantic, especially in tropical latitudes. Changes in the annual average UQL temperature in the central and eastern parts of the North Atlantic are significantly affected by errors related to an inaccuracy of estimates of annual average heat fluxes on the ocean surface. The maximum contribution of the horizontal eddy diffusivity to the interannual variability of the UQL temperature is observed in the northwestern part of the North Atlantic and the region of the Subpolar Gyre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CMIP model simulations show wide spread uncertainties in ENSO statistics and dynamics. In this study, we use the concept of the linear recharge oscillator (ReOsc) model to diagnose the ENSO-dynamics in CMIP3 and CMIP5 model simulations. The ReOsc model parameters allow us to quantify SST and thermocline damping, SST coupling to thermocline and vice-versa, sensitivity to wind stress and heat flux forcings and separate atmospheric from oceanic processes. Our results show that the ENSO-dynamics and their diversity within the CMIP ensemble can be well represented with the linear recharge oscillator model diagnostics. We also illustrate that the ENSO dynamics show larger biases relative to observations and spread within the models than simple large-scale statistics such as SST standard deviation would suggest. The CMIP models underestimate the atmospheric positive and negative feedbacks, they have compensating atmospheric and oceanic errors, the thermocline damping is too strong and stochastic noise forcings in models is too weak. The CMIP5 models show only marginal improvements relative to CMIP3. The results suggest that models can still be significantly improved and our analysis gives directions to what needs to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the Mediterranean Sea heat budget components from a set of forced and coupled simulations performed in the frame of the Med-CORDEX project. The simulations use regional climate system models (RCSMs) dedicated to the Mediterranean area and driven by the ERA40/ERA-Interim reanalyses. The study focuses on the period 1980-2010. Interannual variations of the average net heat flux at the sea surface are consistent among models but the spread in the mean values is large (from −4.8 to +2.2 Wm−2) with the coupled models showing the lowest heat loss from the sea. For the heat flux at the Strait of Gibraltar both interannual variations and mean values show a large intermodel spread. The basin average temperature shows positive trends with highest values in the coupled models; it also shows interannual variations that are in good agreement with observations. The heat content rate is calculated based on the derivative of the average temperature and is found to be significantly correlated for most models with the net heat flux at the sea surface (average correlation ~0.5) but not with the net heat flux through the Strait of Gibraltar (average correlation ~0.2), suggesting that in the considered RCSMs the interannual variability of the heat content rate is mainly driven by the surface heat fluxes. The resemblance between the simulated and observed heat content rates is stronger in the forced models than in the coupled ones. This is explained by the stronger constraint applied to the forced models by the use of the surface temperature relaxation to observations. The temperature of the outflowing water through the Strait of Gibraltar shows positive and significant trends, also higher in the coupled models. It is suggested that the Mediterranean Sea warming found in most models and in particular in the coupled ones, induces a change of the hydrographic conditions that affects the Strait of Gibraltar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oceanic and atmospheric processes were investigated in order to explore the causes of seasonal and interannual variability of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the western tropical Atlantic (WTA; 20°S–20°N, 15°W–60°W). A mixed‐layer (ML) heat budget was performed by using Argo profiles and supplementary data sets based on satellite and atmospheric products during the period 2007–2012. The WTA is divided into four boxes which represent the main temporal and spatial heterogeneities of this region. An analysis of error of each term pointed out that the mean net surface heat fluxes are systematically underestimated by 20 W m−2. A correction of this term provides realistic estimates of the vertical mixing which was obtained as residual term. In agreement with previous studies, the results show that surface flux is the most important process that governs the seasonal cycle of the heat content. Changes in shortwave radiation and latent heat fluxes dictate the oceanic response to the meridional migration of the ITCZ. Along the equator, surface fluxes modulate the annual cycle of ML temperature, but are strongly balanced by horizontal advection. The entrainment term proves a small contribution to the cooling of the ML. On an interannual time scale, the strong positive (negative) SST anomalies observed in 2010 (2012) were generated during the previous winter in both years, mainly north of 10°N, during which the wind anomalies were at the origin of intense heat loss anomalies. Horizontal advection may contributes to the maintaining of these SST anomalies in the equatorial zone and south Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of physical or data-driven models have been proposed to evaluate stream water temperatures based on hydrological and meteorological observations. However, physical models require a large amount of information that is frequently unavailable, while data-based models ignore the physical processes. Recently the air2stream model has been proposed as an intermediate alternative that is based on physical heat budget processes, but it is so simplified that the model may be applied like data-driven ones. However, the price for simplicity is the need to calibrate eight parameters that, although have some physical meaning, cannot be measured or evaluated a priori . As a result, applicability and performance of the air2stream model for a particular stream relies on the efficiency of the calibration method. The original air2stream model uses an inefficient 20-year old approach called Particle Swarm Optimization with inertia weight. This study aims at finding an effective and robust calibration method for the air2stream model. Twelve different optimization algorithms are examined on six different streams from northern USA (states of Washington, Oregon and New York), Poland and Switzerland, located in both high mountains, hilly and lowland areas. It is found that the performance of the air2stream model depends significantly on the calibration method. Two algorithms lead to the best results for each considered stream. The air2stream model, calibrated with the chosen optimization methods, performs favorably against classical streamwater temperature models. The MATLAB code of the air2stream model and the chosen calibration procedure (CoBiDE) are available as Supplementary Material on the Journal of Hydrology web page. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiative fluxes are a key component of the surface heat budget of the oceans. Yet, observations over oceanic region are sparse due to the complexity of radiation measurements; moreover, certain oceanic regions are substantially under-sampled, such as the north Indian Ocean. The National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, India, under its Ocean Observation Program has deployed an Ocean Moored Network for the Northern Indian Ocean (OMNI) both in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. These buoys are equipped with sensors to measure radiation and rainfall, in addition to other basic meteorological parameters. They are also equipped with sensors to measure sub-surface currents, temperature, and conductivity from the surface up to a depth of 500 m. Observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) AQUA and TERRA satellites have been used to infer surface radiation over the north Indian Ocean. In this study, we focus only on the shortwave (SW↓) fluxes. The evaluations of the MODIS-based SW↓ fluxes against the RAMA observing network have shown a very good agreement between them, and therefore, we use the MODIS-derived fluxes as a reference for the evaluation of the OMNI observations. In an early deployment of the OMNI buoys, the radiation sensors were placed at 2 m above the sea surface; subsequently, the height of the sensors was raised to 3 m. In this study, we show that there was a substantial improvement in the agreement between the buoy observations and the satellite estimates, once the sensors were raised to higher levels. The correlation coefficient increased from 0.87 to 0.93, and both the bias and standard deviations decreased substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to provide an overview of the thermal processes that shape wellbore temperature profiles under static and dynamic conditions. Understanding of the respective influences of advection and conduction heat fluxes is improved through the use of a new heat budget at the borehole scale. Keeping in mind the thermal processes involved, a qualitative interpretation of the temperature profiles allows the occurrence, the position, and the origin of groundwater flowing into wellbores from hydraulically active fractures to be constrained. With the use of a heat budget developed at the borehole scale, temperature logging efficiency has been quantitatively enhanced and allows inflow temperatures to be calculated through the simultaneous use of a flowmeter. Under certain hydraulic or pumping conditions, both inflow intensities and associated temperatures can also be directly modelled from temperature data and the use of the heat budget. Theoretical and applied examples of the heat budget application are provided. Applied examples are shown using high-resolution temperature logging, spinner flow metering, and televiewing for three wells installed in fractured bedrock aquifers in the St-Lawrence Lowlands, Quebec, Canada. Through relatively rapid manipulations, thermal measurements in such cases can be used to detect the intervals or discrete positions of hydraulically active fractures in wellbores, as well as the existence of ambient flows with a high degree of sensitivity, even at very low flows. Heat budget calculations at the borehole scale during pumping indicate that heat advection fluxes rapidly dominate over heat conduction fluxes with the borehole wall. The full characterization of inflow intensities provides information about the distribution of hydraulic properties with depth. The full knowledge of inflow temperatures indicates horizons that are drained from within the aquifer, providing advantageous information on the depth from which groundwater originates during pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern instrumental records reveal that El Niño events differ in their spatial patterns and temporal evolutions. Attempts have been made to categorize them roughly into two main types: eastern Pacific (EP; or cold tongue) and central Pacific (CP; or warm pool) El Niño events. In this study, a modified version of the Zebiak-Cane (MZC) coupled model is used to examine the dynamics of these two types of El Niño events. Linear eigenanalysis of the model is conducted to show that there are two leading El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modes with their SST patterns resembling those of two types of El Niño. Thus, they are referred to as the EP and CP ENSO modes. These two modes are sensitive to changes in the mean states. The heat budget analyses demonstrate that the EP (CP) mode is dominated by thermocline (zonal advective) feedback. Therefore, the weak (strong) mean wind stress and deep (shallow) mean thermocline prefer the EP (CP) ENSO mode because of the relative dominance of thermocline (zonal advective) feedback under such a mean state. Consistent with the linear stability analysis, the occurrence ratio of CP/EP El Niño events in the nonlinear simulations generally increases toward the regime where the linear CP ENSO mode has relatively higher growth rate. These analyses suggest that the coexistence of two leading ENSO modes is responsible for two types of El Niño simulated in the MZC model. This model result may provide a plausible scenario for the observed ENSO diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributions of ocean mixed layer temperature trends and trends in the net heat flux from the atmosphere differ, indicating the important role of the transport of heat within the ocean for determining temperature trends. Annual-mean, linear trends in the components of the tropical ocean mixed layer heat budget for 1980-2015 are diagnosed in 4 ocean reanalyses to improve our physical understanding of multidecadal-scale SST trends. The well-known temperature trend in the tropical Pacific, with cooling in the east and warming in the west, is reproduced in each reanalysis with high statistical significance. Cooling in the east is associated with negative trends in the net heat flux from the atmosphere and enhanced equatorial upwelling related to a strengthening of the subtropical cells. Negative trends in the net heat flux also occur in the western tropical Pacific, but advective warming associated with a strengthening and shoaling of the equatorial undercurrent overwhelms these negative trends. The strengthening of the equatorial undercurrent is consistent with enhanced easterly wind stress, which is applied to the ocean reanalyses, and differential sea level trends that enhance the negative zonal height gradient across the Pacific. The Pacific North Equatorial countercurrent is also strengthening in all 4 reanalyses in association with a strengthening of the sea level trough at 10°N in the central and eastern Pacific. All 4 ocean reanalyses produce warming of 0.1-0.3 K/decade in the North Atlantic with statistical significance levels ranging from below 90-99%. The Atlantic is similar to the Pacific in having the equatorial undercurrent strengthening, but indications of shoaling are less consistent in the reanalyses and the North Equatorial Countercurrent in the Atlantic is not strengthening. Large-scale ocean mixed layer warming trends in the Indian Ocean in the reanalyses are interrupted by some regional cooling close to the equator. Net surface heat flux trends are mostly negative, indicating increasing heat fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere. Wind stress trends applied to the ocean reanalyses are weak, but trends in the Indian Ocean equatorial undercurrent are strong. Since the Indian monsoon climate introduces strong seasonality, the annual analysis may not be adequate for studying physical processes in this ocean basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inversion layers in the lower troposphere appear centered at two heights, 1.5 and 4 km, over the northwestern coast of the South China Sea in late boreal winter. The mechanisms of these dual inversion layers are investigated with thermal budget and composite analyses of the JRA-55 dataset. The thermal budget analysis classifies inversion layers between the levels of 700 and 600 hPa into two types. One type is related to high pressure moving southward along the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau; the arrival of the high coincides with subsidence that warms the 600-hPa level more strongly, and the stability increases between the 700- and 600-hPa levels. The other type is related to a synoptic-scale eastward-propagating wave in the upper troposphere. The upper-level high pressure in the wave is accompanied by a midtropospheric warm area whose intrusion at the 600-hPa level generates the inversion layers. Inversions between the levels of 925 and 850 hPa are related to heating and cooling by horizontal advection of potential temperature in the upper and lower levels, respectively. The vertical contrast of horizontal advection corresponds to a frontlike structure at the southern edge of a pressure surge. The pressure surge has a similar structurewith the high pressuremoving along the plateau edge as mentioned for the former type of inversion layers between the 700- and 600-hPa levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3Cat-3/MOTS (3: Cube, Cat: Catalunya, 3: 3rd CubeSat mission/Missió Observació Terra Satèl.lit) mission is a joint initiative between the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC) and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC) to foster innovative Earth Observation (EO) techniques based on data fusion of Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry (GNSS-R) and optical payloads. It is based on a 6U CubeSat platform, roughly a 10 cm × 20 cm × 30 cm parallelepiped. Since 2012, there has been a fast growing trend to use small satellites, especially nanosatellites, and in particular those following the CubeSat form factor. Small satellites possess intrinsic advantages over larger platforms in terms of cost, flexibility, and scalability, and may also enable constellations, trains, federations, or fractionated satellites or payloads based on a large number of individual satellites at an affordable cost. This work summarizes the mission analysis of 3Cat-3/MOTS, including its payload results, power budget (PB), thermal budget (TB), and data budget (DB). This mission analysis is addressed to transform EO data into territorial climate variables (soil moisture and land cover change) at the best possible achievable spatio-temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of microwave irradiation (MWI) on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) based MOSFETs. The MWI technique is used for post-metal annealing (PMA) in air ambient, and compared with conventional thermal annealing in a forming gas ambient. This type of annealing not only constitutes a low cost, short time, low temperature, vacuum-free alternative to conventional post-metal annealing methods, but it also allows much lower thermal budgets, which, in turn, minimizes dopant motion, redistribution, and diffusion. The MWI treated MOSFETs showed superior electrical characteristics in terms of field effect mobility, on-off ratio, subthreshold swing, interface trap density, stability, and hot carrier effect immunity. Therefore, MWI technology is expected to become a promising annealing method for silicon-based processes, with low cost and low thermal budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal inertia is a physical parameter that evaluates soil thermal properties with an emphasis on the stability of the temperature when the soil is affected by heating/cooling. Thermal inertia can be retrieved from a heat budget formulation as a parameter when the time series of Earth surface temperature and forcing variables, such as insolation and air temperature, are given. In this study, a two-layer, linearized heat budget model was employed for the retrieval of thermal inertia over a grassland in a semiarid region. Application of different formulations to the aerodynamic conductance with respect to atmospheric stability significantly improved the accuracy of the thermal inertia retrieval. The retrieved values of thermal inertia were well correlated with in situ surface soil moisture at multiple ground stations. The daily time series of thermal inertia-derived soil moisture qualitatively agreed well with in situ soil moisture after antecedent rainfalls, which was found after fitting the time series to an exponentially decaying function. On the contrary, AMSR2 soil moisture mostly did not agree with in situ soil moisture. The results of the estimation showed high accuracy: the root-mean-square error was 0.038m³m-3 compared to the in situ data and was applied to an area of 2° × 2° in which the in situ observation locations were included. The spatiotemporal distribution of surface soil moisture was mapped at a 0.03°×0.03° spatial resolution in the study area as 10- or 11-day averages over a vegetation growth period of 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductivity-temperature-depth observations, objectively analyzed data, and model output are used to investigate the variability of subsurface temperature in the South China Sea (SCS) during 1948-2010. Two extreme subsurface warm events are identified during 1998/99 and 2006/07, with no corresponding extreme surface warming except in 1998. Mixed-layer heat budget analysis reveals that the lack of significant heat input from surface net heat flux or from current advection is responsible for the absence of extreme surface warming during 1999, and 2006/07. The surface net heat flux alone cannot explain the first phases of subsurface warming during 1998/99 and 2006/07. Warm advection from the southern SCS in 1998/99 and from the Kuroshio intrusion in 2006/07, induced by anomalous ocean currents, is likely the major contributor to warming of the subsurface water. During the second phase of warming, the surface net heat flux plays a damping role to cool the subsurface water, and the warm advection induced by anomalous SCS western boundary currents from the southern SCS leads to extremely warm subsurface water anomalies. The results show the importance of the Pacific western boundary currents, especially the Kuroshio, in maintaining extreme subsurface warm events in the SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]