Fig. 1: Data availability of surface and subsurface heat fluxes respectively into and out of the mixed layer in the equatorial Pacific.
From: Subsurface ocean turbulent mixing enhances central Pacific ENSO
a Schematic of the inward surface net heat flux to the mixed layer and outward subsurface turbulent heat flux of the mixed layer base (MLB); the shading displays the mean monthly temperature anomalies over the growing months (Sep., Oct. and Nov., SON) of all El Niño events during 2000–2022; the black thick line shows the mean depth of MLB of the equatorial band, calculated from Argo profiles. The regions of Niño 3, Niño 4 and Niño 3.4 are marked. b Argo profile numbers, counted over 5°(zonal)×3°(meridional) boxes over 2005–2022 (left), and the zonal mean Argo profile numbers averaged over 170°W–110°W at 1° meridional grid (right). c The estimated mean inward surface net heat fluxes (penetrative shortwave heat fluxes considered) and outward subsurface turbulent heat fluxes, \({J}_{q}^{s}\) and \({J}_{q}^{{EL}}\), respectively, averaged over 5° (zonal)×6° (3°S–3°N) boxes along the equatorial band (see the text); shading with dashed bounds denotes the corresponding standard deviation calculated over each box during 2005–2022, shading with solid bonds denotes the 95% bootstrap confidence intervals, while error bars denote the standard deviation of monthly anomalies (i.e., the magnitude of interannual variations).
